Psionic exploration!

[DM Bob]

Behind the curtains in each niche, a similar scene is well...

Seen.

Each holds a tall, hunched and clawed form, haphazardly wrapped in ancient yellow and umber colored linens similar to the ones that are in the room Quila and the party physically occupy. You can assume these could be magical as well?

The skin underneath is visible in patches and has a greenish color to the dried, rubbery looking remains.

Beyond these strange upright corpses and the trapped door, the corridor opens to the left. More niches are seen, as well as a crude dug tunnel in the east wall, caked in thick webs. They move by some means, reminding you of convulsing bugs trapped in a spider's nest.

In the west wall where the corridor turns, another magical trapped stone door sits. To the east, more niches with more tiny, canine skulled bodies lie. This ends at another mechanically trapped stone door.

[AthasianLaborer]

View down the webbed tunnel, then checking behind the eastern trapped door just north of the web tunnel.

Curious how deep that webbed tunnel is, is it the mouth of a trap door spider's den or something deeper that could be sealed off with earth?  I imagine there's a spider there either way, but does it need torched or can it be sealed away (assuming it isn't a phase spider)

[Niachi]

At mention of spiders and webs, Niachi eyes twinkle.

“Webbing rules out Goblin Spiders. They refuse webs, trapdoor only. But they subcontract with others.
First spider we see, I may be of assistance.”

[DM Bob]

[DM note: The webbing area will remain 'unmapped' due to the difficult nature of getting exact dimension/distances looking through the web, with limited lighting even with infravision, etc... for now description only.]

The webbing is thick and the corridor winds and raises upwards.

Occasionally a glimpse of a wiggling clawed finger or hand is seen - likely from the tomb above. Three dark chitinous bulks are seen, unmoving. Either unperturbed by the living dead hands? Eventually, the corridor ends at a wall. Odd. It looks like there's no egress here.

***

Beyond the mechanically trapped door, it is obvious this was once some kind of storage area. Seven dark columns support the ceiling. Shiny shards of broken amphoras, red waxen sealed jars and crude small statues litter the floor. Wall paintings repeat the earlier theme of Myron being entombed alive and again, this time, the head has not been defaced. It resembles a nine tentacled squid. Scrawled in dark red writing over part of the picture are the words, "Entropy cannot die."

To the south end of this room, a shaft rises straight up into the dark, somewhere above and likely to the first floor of this dread place.

[AthasianLaborer]

Next view is behind the trapped door opposite the door to the storage room.

Behind the trapped door on the far end of the niched hallway would be the following view.

[DM Bob]

Both magically trapped stone doors have nothing behind them. Seems to be a theme.

[AthasianLaborer]

View the second chute from bottom to top, paying attention to distance covered and looking for possible hand passages.

What's at the top?

[DM Bob]

This shaft (Shut your mouth! Just talking about Shaft! John Shaft! He's a smooth mother...) goes up about 80 feet before you see three big ass spiders with oily black chitin mottled with deep purple & red coloration. Bunched together, you think they're about 4-6' big.. They have somewhat humanoid faces.

Above them, webs that funnel downward. A small hole in the center allows you to look up and see that it deposits in a room or larger chamber above. Something hangs above directly over the hole in the webbing... it light be a block tackle and pulley? But this is broken or simply in heavy disrepair. A few clawed hands twitch and thrash about the webs. The spiders seem to ignore them.

Looking into the room and leaving the dangerous predator arachnids behind you (shudder), you find your senses in a room some 15' x 20' in size. Looking closer at the broken pulley here, you notice long destroyed shreds of rope still hang precariously to the dead mechanism some 8 feet from the floor.

In the north wall, the outline of a door is seen, and detects as magically trapped.

Air flutters the web from below.

Refraining from mapping at the moment. Verbal explanations from here in on the level until things connect or they don't.

[Niachi]

Niachi practically vibrates in

an-

tici-

PATION

for Quila's next report.

[AthasianLaborer]

As established by John in messenger, Quila will be relaying her visions so 'Muiko can continue mapping.

Bring the view to the other side of the trapped door in the block and tackle room.

[Elven: "You're eager to parley with the spiders aren't you?"] 'Muiko says without looking up from his mapping efforts

[Attilius]

Apr 26, 2024 13:51:50 GMT -12 AthasianLaborer said:

[Elven: "Blah blapity blip blah bu bah blah?"] 'Muiko says without looking up from his mapping efforts

"C'mon Muiko! Use da trade tongue so we's can understand too!"

[AthasianLaborer]

Apr 26, 2024 14:05:38 GMT -12 Attilius said:

Apr 26, 2024 13:51:50 GMT -12 AthasianLaborer said:

[Elven: "Blah blapity blip blah bu bah blah?"] 'Muiko says without looking up from his mapping efforts

"C'mon Muiko! Use da trade tongue so we's can understand too!"

"I just pointed out that he's obviously eager for the spiders" 'Muiko says as he gestures towards Niachi with his head

[DM Bob]

After the magically trapped door, there is a ten foot long corridor that ends at what looks to be a sliding panel. Upon the other side, a small shrine sits on the west wall.

There is more artwork depicting a larger than life Myron, these with his face scratched off, walking among droves of varied humanoids of various ugly make and description. He holds a stave that is identical to the one Quila holds. Perhaps these humanoids match the bones in this crypt temple and Myron's original tomb, but they aren't anything that you've seen above in the wastes. They salute, some are on their knees, others heft weapons of ancient design and most look to be metal - not bones, stones or obsidian. Blood pools upon the ground, where blades of green grass stretch the entire field of the wall canvas.

To the north wall another door stands.

Beyond that, dark, murky water is found. From the doorframe bottom it starts. Various dead pests float upon the top. Three undead clawed hands swim in circles slowly, two others are no longer moving and float on top. You seem to be looking from within a pit, as there seems to be a room above, perhaps 10 feet or so above your vision.

There is writing in a language you don't understand on the door here. It might be the same that was on the shield you found in the other dungeon.

Looking above this pit, a simple 10' x 15' room houses spears and oddly shaped polearms, their blades rusted but intact, stacked against the south wall
of this otherwise empty room. These are to the left of the open pit you've popped your vision from.

In the north west corner of the room a small, thin corridor ends in a small panel door.

AND BEYOND THAT! You find yourself in the room with the stone plinths holding the 8 sword carrying dead humanoid cultists with tusky teeth. This means the lever in the wall is to the immediate right (north) of this hidden entrance.

[Niachi]

[Elven: "Alliances spread like silver strands."]

Common: "Alliances spread like silver threads. You describe Goblin Spiders. Neutral in their twisted hearts, smarter than they show. Those I knew did not weave silk. About 5 other spiderfolk nations will work with them as guards. Hideous eyes so steel yourselves. Trapdoor capture happens in a blink. The bigger females can drag a mul in no problem. Venom feels like you're melting from the inside, because you are.

 They respond favorable to thumping and drumming, but don't play the wrong rhythm as they worship some foul cosmic Vibration. That said, I will try to befriend one with my tools."

He clears his throat, rasping his vocal cords with inhaled barking coughs you realize is a language.

"Just warming up. I have one Dispel Magic in reserve. Need other slots for other things."

He casts Detect Invisible, duration 40 rounds.

The Xerichou learns from its magical companion and stuffs itself into Niachi's pack, it's head and wingtips poking out.

Spells available:
3/1/2/1

[Attilius]

"A Merchant houses coffers worth of metal in 'ere..." the giant says in amazement as he thinks about melting it all down and crafting renewed steel weapons and armors.

Upon Niachi's venom description, the Murmillo rechecks all his armors belts and straps to make sure everything is secure and tight. "Maybe, I'm just glad it's not a bunch of Gaj..."