Chapter 1: finding the Tomb

As you approach the Obelisk you see three stone gargoyles watch you from narrow ledges carved into the cliff side. Each has the face of a bearded devil, its mouth agape in a silent scream.

Tinkara flies up to a height of 20 feet and hovers above the party. She watches the gargoyles carefully for any sign of movement.

Vatoris quickly ritual cast detect magic. He begins searching the area to see if anything interesting is picked up or if he notices anything.
"Leave those statues alone please. We don't want them waking up. "

Thaddeus, long-known as Thad to friends, draws his sword and stands stalwartly silent, or perhaps silently stalwart, beside and guarding Vatoris. Marveling at the magician’s ritual, and instinctively clasping his necklaced holy symbol in gauntleted hand.
Agreed, Thad replies.

Throgin looks at Tinkara flying and gives a sigh as he weilds his maul. We seeing anything Vatoris? I hate stamding here just waiting for so.ething to happen

Sword and shield at the ready, Ixion said, "Give him time to work, Fist, then we can have a look under all these vines. Better safe than splattered."

If you say so..hmmph Throgins small frame compared to his maul is accented by the hand axes by his side and javelin on his back. While clearly a warrior, the size and amount of weapons he has is almost silly for a man of his proportions.

He stands his maul with one end on the ground, the head of it reaching his own head in height. Awaiting those around him but ready to move at a moments notice.

It takes 10 minutes for Vatoris to complete the routine ritual. Flexing their weapons and watching the stone statues the rest of the team waits patiently
The obelisk radiates a strong aura of abjuration magic Vatoris finally announce.

"Don't worry friend." - while saying so Zean puts his hand on Throgin arm in the calming gesture. But the keen eye would certainly notice that there was a little electric discharge moving from Zean hand to Throgin body, which he didn't probably even noticed as the power of thunder were so natural to him.

"I'm quite sure there will be planty of interesting things to do for such a man of action like you - as soon we enter this ancient place. But for now... let's allow Vatoris do his tricks." - and by saying so Zean moves just a little behind Throgin and draws his own maul, fighting his rising curiosity and impatience to see what is written on the obelisk.

"Don't touch that Obelisk. It is protected with magic." Vatoris walks to the two paths blocked weeds "Who wants to pick a path? Flip a coin to choose?"

"Nothing from the gargoyles or these entrances, eh, Vatoris?" Ixion asked as he manifested a magic hand to pull the vines away from both holes.

"I say we try the smaller opening first."

"Gargoyles are too far for the spell. " He walks over ton the smaller path and starts trying to clear a path.

Tinkara, staying aloft at ~ 20 ft., flies over and surveys the two openings from above. Can she see anything of note from her higher vantage point?

Throgin takes a deep breathe as Zean touches him. The little flash of electricity causing a small the faintest of ozone smell in the air. He nods at Zean then starts to head over to Ixion I will be ready for you. He stands and watches the gargoyles as Ixion starts to clear the opening.

For Zean's disappointment party does not share his desire to see what's written on the statue (so it stays behind both vines and black moss at least later would require time/effort and preferably a knife or similar tool to clean the moss).

Ixion move some of the creepers using his mage hand only to realize vegetation is too heavy for mage hand to be any effective.
Vatoris use his both hands and his whole weight to slowly clean up the entrance from the creepers - it takes less than a minute to finally see a narrow tunnel. Alcoves run the length of a tunnel, each one featuring a bestial statue standing or squatting above a basin of oil. The statues depict the eight of nine gods: with each facing pair of alcoves dedicated to two gods who oppose each other. Moving down the hall from west to east, the opposing statues depict Moa (jaculi) and Wongo (su-monster), I'jin (almiraj) and Obo'laka (zorbo), Papazotl (eblis) and Kubazan (froghemoth), and Nangnang (grung) and Shagambi (kamadan).

I see aura of divination magic around the statues. The oil basins give off an aura of conjuration Vatoris announce


Meawhile Tinkara realize that she is too far from the entrance to see inside.
Throgin have a feeling that wherever he don't watch at a gargoyle - it is moving, freezing immediately as he look at it.

The gargoyles are starting to stir I swear it Throgin whispers to Ixion. Either we get in now or we might have a fight on our hands. He beckons the others to go toward the new opening to the passage. Not letting his eyes leave the closest gargoyle to him.

He throws his maul onto the strap on his back it usually hangs while he walks, and grabs a javelin.