DRAMATIS PERSONAE:
Ranzel of the Wood (Human Ranger 6)
Solcha (Elf Fighter 5 / Magic User 5)
Skeef Hawkridge (Half Elf Druid 6/ Thief 6)
Goro (Half Orc Cleric 4 / Fighter 5)
Skeef Hawkridge (Half Elf Druid 6/ Thief 6)
Goro (Half Orc Cleric 4 / Fighter 5)
Date/Time
??
As the party pauses for breath and looks around them, they note the only exit from the small balcony is a stone door, on which is carved a slightly opened stone mouth. As the rumble of the skeleton and chain continues below, the mouth animates and, pursing it's lips, releases a gust of wind and blows all four off the balcony to the danger below. A combination of magic, thief skill, potion and luck has all four scrambling back up before the skeleton could strike again. They try multiple ways to appease the mouth as it continues to buffet and lash them, and in the end it subsides only when Goro and Ranzel force the door open.
Beyond the door is a bleak, cold, stone office, smeared with ash. There are four stone bookcases inset in the walls, and a stone desk. On one shelf is a potion, which Ranzel tests and finds is a potion of levitation. Looking around, they note that on the desk and above each bookcase is a smaller version of the mouth on the door. Skeef starts to search the desk, at which point all 5 mouths in the room speak: "What is our number? The druid/thief responds "six", to include the one on the door. This results in a hidden drawer opening on the desk. Inside is a black candle of Astaroth, and a strange brittle leather pouch containing respite (whisper and myth) plus a strange medallion marked with a blazing fireball.
As Skeef examines the desk, he looks closer at the mouth carved upon it and notes that there is some sort of pale pink fleshy material caught in its teeth. It looks like the medallion of myth he'd just discovered, so one is fed to the mouth. The mouth animates and devours the medallion, then two of the bookcases that Solcha suspected hid secret doors (west and south) begin the sink into the floor. The south one reveals a passageway extending into darkness, while to the west it uncovers a small alcove. In the alcove the party recovers a pair of purple candles, a red candle, a magic user spell scroll, a heavy velvet cloak (devils mantle) and a gem glowing with a strange pink-red light (jewel of nessus). The gem is hot and cannot be safely handled by anyone but Solcha with her ring of fire resistance, but it casts a generous amount of illumination in contrast their their own feeble torch.
Heading now into the winding southern passage, they use one of their candles to pass through a red gem gate. At one point they pass an alcove on the right, with an indentation about 5' above the ground in the shape of a humanoid face. Goro figure this may be some way to secretly view interior rooms, and may help them with their goal of safely locating the Herald of Hextor. So he sticks his face in; and promptly disappears. Troubled, but unable to do anything right now for their missing companion, the other three continue on. They come to another alcove, and this time Ranzel risks a look. At first the ranger is gagged by a tongue thrust down his throat, but is then able to see through the carved eyeholes. He observes a circular room decorated with silk pillows and cushions, gold and polished wood, perfused censors, and a large brass hookah. He also sees someone sitting at the hookah; a beautiful woman with cinnamon brown skin and dressed in a diaphanous black gown. And with a forked tail and small bat wings at her shoulder.
Razel pulls himself away, and finds the tongue has taken his voice. Sharing pantomime and hand gestures, the three decide to go back to the first alcove and follow Goro though. And all find themselves standing back at the red gem gate they first passed though to enter this corridor. Using another red candle, they bypass the gate again to continue exploring along this perimeter passage. They come to another alcove, and again Ranzel risks the mask. This time he observes a largely featureless room. Pressing on, they reach a point where the passage ends and opens into another large space. There is also another alcove to the left, and this one Goro tries. This time he feels something crawl into this ears and wriggle past his brain before gaining a view. This time he sees their target; a huge pit fiend marked on the forehead with Hextor's symbol. This must be Chamazi. He is with another figure, a slight man in black and red, with wings of a house-fly sprouting from his shoulders and tiny pointed horns on his head. To two do not speak, but seem to be in some sort of communication. After some time they seem to make an agreement, and Chamzai gets up and leaves the room.
At this point Goro emerges from the mask, having lost his hearing. The cleric is satisfied he has what he needs to appease Heironeous, and wants to get out of this literal hell-hole post haste. Solcha supports him, but Skeef and Ranzel think it may be worth pushing on and taking their chances for the opportunity at great riches and magical treasures that must lie somewhere in the tower ...
GAINS
2 purple candles of Astaroth
1 red candle of Astaroth
1 black candle of Astaroth
12 rings of Whisper [respite]
5 medallions of Myth [respite]
Fireball trinket
Scroll - 1 MU Spell
Devils Mantle
Jewel of Nessus
Potion of Levitation
KILLS/VICTORIES
none
LOSSES
Ranzels tongue
Goros hearing