The Realms of Horror (Ch. 1)

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Sat Nov 05, 2016 12:23 am

The back of the door can be seen through the bars in the room. More magical runes can be seen on the wall past the door.

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Sat Nov 05, 2016 12:41 am

"More runes? Right, I'm releasing this tarp for now. I say we learn whatever the rest of that inscription in the hallway says. Who knows, maybe there's something about how to deal with those buggers."

When everyone is ready, Kamaron will retrieve the canvas and then head back into the previous hallway.

Newbie Newtype · Post by **Newbie Newtype** » Sat Nov 05, 2016 12:46 am

Horace nods and heads back with Karamon, "I agree, if we go in too quickly we could limit our means of escape and the nature of these runes could be the key to understanding the rest of them, but their response to our actions is still puzzling."

Post by **Bob the Hamster** » Sat Nov 05, 2016 1:23 am

"Fiiiine"

Catt puts away the battering ram, disappointed, and follows.

Gizmog · Post by **Gizmog** » Sat Nov 05, 2016 4:23 am

Slickens also follows along, rather worried about having to read the rest of that message. Something about it gives him goosebumps.

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Sat Nov 05, 2016 2:51 pm

Back in the main hallway, Slickens easily points out the tiny message in the tiles to everyone. The message trails off down the yet unexplored part of the dark hall.

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Sat Nov 05, 2016 4:27 pm

Kamaron holds his gauntleted fist up, causing it to shine bright light so that the others can see more clearly.

"Catt, I think you might be best suited to see what the rest of the text says. You should still be able to walk on air, that way you won't trigger any traps while you're looking for them."

He pauses for a moment, then continues:

"Well, any floor-based traps that is. I'll survey the area through your eyes from here, in case there is anything magical that you might miss."

Post by **Bob the Hamster** » Sat Nov 05, 2016 5:00 pm

Catt takes point, so the holy men can focus on the writing and worry less about traps

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Sat Nov 05, 2016 8:30 pm

Catt is able to easily find and read the rest of the message by floating down the hall. While she does, Catt spots two more pit traps.

Acererak congratulates you on your powers of observation. Make of this whatever you wish, for you will be mine in the end, no matter what! Thou must enter the prison Or enter the mist, Only then my temple And crypt not be missed. Shun thou green if you can, And know red is blood's color. Though the shade of the night Is for those of great valor. There ignore poppy's hue Also color of ice. Loop of magical gold Is a wise sacrifice. Skip thou two leading to A fortuitous fall. Then no lower thou goest If thou checkest the wall. Hold thou these keys and those Most important of all. 'Ware of trembling hands Also that which maul. First find one that is false Then a true one you'll see. In the vast columned hall Find the throne keyed and key. Iron men visage grim More than meet viewer's eye. Then you've left and you've left. Find my Tomb, your souls die!

Near the far end of the corridor, in the east wall, is an archway. A veil of mists behind the archway prevents any vision within. Ten feet beyond, on the south wall of the corridor, is a mosaic of a devil's face with a gaping mouth. The face is carved from green stone, and the 3-foot mouth is dead black. One section of the red tile path on the floor leads directly through the archway and into the mists. The other leads directly to the center of the south wall, as though into the mouth of the devil-mask there.

With the hallway lit up, the party can all make out the archway and devil face at the end of the hall. They are both magical.

"What do you suppose that green face does?" asked Johnny.

Post by **Bob the Hamster** » Sat Nov 05, 2016 10:44 pm

Catt reads the whole message out loud for the others:

"Acererak congratulates you on your powers of observation. Make of this whatever you wish, for you will be mine in the end, no matter what! Thou must enter the prison Or enter the mist, Only then my temple And crypt not be missed. Shun thou green if you can, And know red is blood's color. Though the shade of the night Is for those of great valor. There ignore poppy's hue Also color of ice. Loop of magical gold Is a wise sacrifice. Skip thou two leading to A fortuitous fall. Then no lower thou goest If thou checkest the wall. Hold thou these keys and those Most important of all. 'Ware of trembling hands Also that which maul. First find one that is false Then a true one you'll see. In the vast columned hall Find the throne keyed and key. Iron men visage grim More than meet viewer's eye. Then you've left and you've left. Find my Tomb, your souls die! "

"Anybody know who Acererak is? Is that the guy buried in this tomb"

Catt works on disabling the other pit traps by removing and rotating their doors as she did before while the others consider what to do next

Gizmog · Post by **Gizmog** » Sat Nov 05, 2016 10:55 pm

"It has eyes and it's green. Whatever it does is bad." Slickens looks around. What other colors does he see?

Newbie Newtype · Post by **Newbie Newtype** » Sat Nov 05, 2016 11:05 pm

Horace rubs his chin, "It is hard to understand this riddle without clear context, but the divine advice I had received earlier seemed to imply there were two paths, described as going up and below. And our souls being killed, is it a warning what could happen to us?"

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Sun Nov 06, 2016 3:21 am

"Why should we take the advice written here and anything more then another trap," suggested Renold. "Demons are tricky. Everything written there could be a lie."

Around the room, Slickens notices several different decorations on the walls. These include cows grazing in a field, wolves stalking through a forest, and slaves working at various tasks.
Also, a book-filled library chamber, a torture chamber full of tools of torture and evil, and a large bear. These decorations are various colors. There are certainly plenty of greens to go around.
On the archway, three colored gems can be found around the edge. A yellow crystal on the
left base-stone, a blue crystal at the top of the arch and an orange crystal on the right base-stone.

Catt makes short work of one of the pits and begins on the others. While she does, she notices that this pit is different then the other fire spewing one. Sharp spikes can be seen roughly 50ft down.

"I don't know who Acererak," answered Johnny, a bit delayed.
It seemed no one had heard the name before.

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Sun Nov 06, 2016 5:57 am

"It would seem then, that various options are open to us. The first looks to be that green face, and what I imagine is a portal of some sort in its mouth. The second is that red tile path going into the mists. We've also got the secret door we went through, making three paths. Give me a moment."

Kamaron lays out a few candles and incense, then begins to perform a short ritual. He closes his eyes as he kneels, chanting a brief prayer. When he opens his eyes a minute later, he asks:

"What danger can we expect should we proceed through the path near the secret door?"

Spell Used: Augury
80% chance of success.

Post by **Bob the Hamster** » Sun Nov 06, 2016 12:17 pm

Catt ties herself off with Kamaron's silk rope, and air-walks down the spike pit to see if anything interesting is at the bottom.