Hammer 11, 1489
Dre'zel my love,
With the moose dead, I quickly surveyed our surroundings.
Five pillars made a semi-circle around the three sarcophagi. On each of the five pillars was carved a symbol: a twig, a pine comb, a flame, a feather, and a hand.
Soupmeister Steve approached the sarcophagus with the small magical emanation and peeked inside. Jumping back, he sent shot a Fire Bolt into the sarcophagus and withdrew a scorched severed hand, indicating that it must have belonged to the one-handed banshee we slew.
Ambrose lit a torch and looked in the cave, alerting a swarm of rats that rushed out to attack him. Jojo and Taimen rushed over to assist him, and the swarms were soon destroyed, many of the rats forming kebabs on my arrows.
Saritu began examining the gnomon and the surrounding symbols. He read some of the carvings. By the full moon was inscribed: “Gaze upon your own face and have your questions answered.” By the half-moon was inscribed: “Unlock the tombs of the half-moon.”
The inside of the cave was strewn with the bones of small animals, as well as many small living rodents and an owl. Across from the entrance was a collapsed corridor blocked by stone. To the right was a small alcove where the moose must have made its home. To the left was a short corridor ending in a stone door. Beyond that was a longer corridor that twisted out of site. Following the longer corridor, Saritu found it ended in a tall mirror with a full moon symbol. A half-moon symbol was carved by the stone door.
Jojo began casting a ritual to speak with animals. Steve began casting a Find Familiar ritual and Saritu began casting an Identify ritual on the gnomon.
Talyth went outside to gather a twig, a pine comb, and a feather. I went outside with her and chopped off the moose’s head.
Jojo began speaking with the animals, but it didn’t seem to go well. He didn’t learn anything, and all the small creatures soon evacuated the area, which I don’t think was his intention.
With nothing else to do, Taimen grew impatient and, grumbling about no one else being strong enough to move the stones, began clearing the collapsed corridor. But as soon as she started, she discovered that they were an illusion, which she said was obvious.
At the end of the corridor was another stone door with a half-moon symbol. Ambrose knocked on it and listened, telling us that he heard druidic chanting from within.
Saritu used her crystal to cast Moonbeam and the stone door rose revealing a druid standing behind a sarcophagus and surrounded by four wolves, two dire wolves, and an animated bush. Inside was a sarcophagus with a fresh human corpse.
While Ravisin ducked behind the stone sarcophagus with the shivering bush, the four wolves rushed into the corridor and pounced on Taimen! Meanwhile, Taimen, Ambrose, and Jojo were caught in the druid’s Moonbeam, which was brighter than any I had ever seen before.
While we fought the wolves, Ambrose rushed past them, vaulting over the sarcophagus to smack the druid with his staff, delivering a stunning strike, which dropped moonbeam. He was soon overcome by wolves and fell.
Alerted by Princess Skullcrusher, Taimen warned us the winter wolves were coming. They tried to charge into the cave but were blocked by Taimen’s steadfast steed.
Jojo rushed into Ravisin’s chamber to defend Ambrose, and quickly cut the druid down, and sent all but one of the wolves fleeing the chamber.
Taimen turned her back on the wolf she was engaged with and dashed onto Princess to engage the greater threat of the winter wolves.
Talyth was trying to get to Ambrose but was stopped by the wolves charging out of the corridor. Saritu cast shatter on the corridor, pinning two of the wolves, but bringing down the ceiling of the corridor, which must have already been compromised.
Soon, there were only two wolves left, and I was torn between the greater threat of a winter wolf and a wolf that was attacking Talyth. My ambivalence was for nought as I quickly brought them both down with my arrows.
Speaking in Common, the awakened shrub, who was grateful to be free of frost druid, told us that Ravisin’s sister, Vernis, had valuables.
Steve found two potions, one of resistance to radiance and one of vitality.
After a short rest in the cave to catch our breath, Saritu used her crystal to cast Moonbeam and open the other stone door, revealing a sarcophagus. Quickly, Jojo opened it, revealing a mummified corpse and Steve grabbed its long leather satchel and ran out before the stone door closed.
Inside that satchel was a wooden cup with a winged fish carving, six silvered arrow heads, and a longbow. Saritu said that none of them were magical.
We went outside to the gazebo where Talyth lit the ingredients she had gathered in the brazier. Everyone was gathered around the gazebo except me. I was standing by the sarcophagi, as the lid of the closed one shattered around me.
From it rose a mummy. It did not attack. Instead, it spoke, first in Elvish, then in Common, of being the guardian of the Elven tomb. It introduced itself as Sahnar, and asked about its kin. Jojo revealed that we encountered them in the woods and had to slay them. To my surprise, Sahnar didn’t seem too upset about it once it learned that they had become banshees.
Sahnar became aware of his own undead state and headed for the cave to look in the mirror. But Taimen cut him off and, in her usual unique brand of charm, spoke softly to him. Something about wisdom of the ages and a well wrapped package. Sliding her tentacle around his arm, they entered the cave and, out of sight, stared into the mirror together.
When they were done, I remained on guard outside the cave as Saritu Attuned to the mirror, and Talyth cast Moonbeam.
First, Jojo scried his mother. It seems that she is the queen of a barbarian tribe and was marching with two sabertoothed tigers and a strapping young man bearing a strong resemblance to Jojo.
I entered the cave and looked in the mirror as Talyth then scried Xadriia, who we saw in a Zapophis cell. She appeared to be recovering from injuries. Bra’tac was there, offering her food, which wasn’t much, but there was a hint that he was trying to care for her. Xadriia still had a scrap of the scarf she shared with Talyth. It hit Talyth hard, I wish there was something to be done. Perhaps once we end this darkness…
As I returned to guard the cave entrance, Ambrose scried a myconid queen, who was tortured by quaggoths. The myconid sovereign saw the scrying and pointed toward a large forge, inside of which was a giant beating heart.
Soon after, we prepared to leave, bidding farewell to Sahnar, who said we were always welcome to return.
Taimen proudly placed the decapitated moose head on Princess Skullcrusher like a long-horned crown, a prize the brave steed truely earned.
The four-hour trek back to Lonelywood was uneventful, and we arrived in the late afternoon. As we strode into town, victorious with the moose head, we were warmly received by the townsfolk.
Meanwhile Nimsy and her kin were thrilled to see us and welcomed us to stay in her attic again. But first she served us all cocoa while we sat together and shared stories. It was so good, I could almost forget our troubles for a time.
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