Chapter 3: Crow's Nest

There is a strong aura of magic emanating from the vault door, and faint auras of magic from the cloak and ring Verrian has retrieved. Unfortunately, Ephwrath is unable to determine anything further about the auras at this time, nor is he able to make any additional observations about the symbols and their translation.

As Elora studies the symbols again, and tries to correlate them to the ravings scratched into the wall, she gets the strong impression that the symbols carved into the door frame have more to say than simply "Life given opens the way." There are too many symbols for the to be the complete translation. She is able to identify some of the symbols — for example, the symbol for "life", if the translation is correct. If that is an accurate translation of the symbol, it is repeated at a few points around the door frame, as though there are additional phrases beyond the one the necromancer identified.

As Ephwrath treats Wil's wound, he's able to detect a telltale odor coming from the bite. As he studies the wound a little more, he realizes that the ghoul's bite infected the halfling with ghoul fever. Ephwrath knows from his studies that the symptoms will likely come on in the morning, and include weakness and lethargy as well sluggishness and delayed reaction times . There are simple remedies that will treat the symptoms and strengthen the inflicted individual's immune system, but no immediate cure outside of a spell. He'll simply have to fight it off and rest.

Verrian and Ember

As you emerge from the secret door into the tunnels, a small crowd has gathered awaiting further news after the rescue of the missing family. When Ember and the tall, intimidating woman in the fancy silver clothing emerge, there's a mix of reactions. One fellow readies an arrow and looks around at his companions, wondering why they're not getting ready for a fight. Others are simply bewildered at this new person appearing out of the tunnel. A couple others gasp in awe, not certain that their eyes are telling them the truth.

Greybeard steps forward and says, "Ember, who is this you bring with you?" He speaks a little formally, even deferentially. Whoever this is, she doesn't look like the kind you want to offend.

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Everyone Else

While awaiting Renaya's potential arrival, the rest of you spend some time looking about the room. The longer you study the symbols carved into the walls and around the door, the more you start to realize there's a pattern. Not in what symbols are written, or in what order, but if you stand a distance away and look at where the symbols are written, you realize they form a picture.

When the light is right, you can see that the carvings form a landscape. The symbols along the bottom half of the diagonal walls seem to depict gently rolling hills. In a few places, symbols are carved vertically up from the "ground" and spread into tree shapes. A little farther along, the symbols are carved more densely. In a moment of inspiration, you think it might be indicating a river. The symbols flow up the wall that holds the vault door and spread out into no apparent pattern at all, as if the ground was rising into the air and dissipating into nothingness.

You look up to the ceiling, about 20 feet overhead, and with the light sources you have, you think you can make out symbols carved there as well, centered around where the statues meet the ceiling and radiating out in lines toward the walls.