Chapter 4: Level 3 dungeon

When you descend to the next level you see another bronze plaque appears on the north wall of the balcony (see this for text)

Next to the plaque there is a painting depicting female winged tiefling warrior. As you investigate the painting it suddenly animates and alive tiefling appear in front of you while painting disappears. Tiefling seems just as surprised all of youA few corridors into different directions

- A huge carving of a snarling jackal's head protrudes from the wall at the end of north corridor. A chamber is visible through the gaps between its fangs.
- Two hulking figures stand in alcoves along this long hall, facing each other. Armor is bolted to their flesh, and they wear bucket helms and spiked gauntlets. Iron collars around their necks are connected by a spiked chain that stretches across the corridor.
- A short hallway to south ends in a t-shaped junction

This level purple mold sprout from the floors, walls, and ceilings in all hallways and even around the balcony. The mold smells like rotting corpses and occasionally releases clouds of harmless spores.

Description: Criella is a female Tiefling with small horns, playful forked tail, reddish blend skin, & bat-like wings sprouting from shoulders which are normally folded. She is slightly comely and appears to be in her twenties.

She is wearing breast plate over a simple shirt with trousers & low soft boots. All of the clothing and armor is of strange make. She sports silver ring on her right hand with dragon wrapped around it, a fine linked silver chain necklace, pair of teardrop silver earrings, silver bracelet on her right arm with dolphins swimming around it. This is accompanied with a leather wineskin & a narrow leather weapon girdle.

She also has a dagger in her right boot sleave. On her narrow leather weapon girdle is a pair of scimitars. One on her right side is silver. She also has a leather component pouch, yen wand in holder, & a leather pouch too. She has a leather backpack sporting heavy wool bedroll, longbow wrapped in a leather bag & 2 full leather quivers with arrows that are white shaft & blood red feathering.

---

Criella has a pair of scimitars drawn but not in a combat pose. She looks like she was reaching for something up upon the wall. As her eyes blink as something surely isn't right. She freezes a moment like a possum in the headlights of a car. Her head swivels around taking in that she just blinked and everything around her isn't the same. It's not her, it is the world changed.

With less than happiness she notes that her party is GONE in a blink of the eye and now there are unknown others present. This immediately puts her a loss. This is after all not a place to alone at and she wasn't a moment ago. She thinks okay now. They aren't here due to me. They look like they are comfy here. Am I the one out of place since my party is gone?

She immediately takes inventory of what she sees. Yes, that is an adventuring party and they are look to be searching/adventuring here. And by looks, they didn't expect me as company. Considering she is roughly outnumbered, she gives a cheesy smile says in easy common, "Would you be a friendly lot and let's not let this situation proceed to violence." and glances over to the littler wing one, "Aren't you a sweety."

There is no indication that she is looking for immediate combat as scimitars in hand are being lowered down in a slow even pace. There is an interesting lavender scent that just appears same time she did. A quick guess would say it is hers. She appears to be rather calm. Rather uncanny like and perhaps even forced. Her playful forked tail moves about aimlessly. A sharper eye would take notice that the light that the party has brought with them doesn't allow Criella to cast a shadow.

Our dark-knightly fellow takes in a deep breath of sweet lavender scent.
Well met. I am Vesuvius. You may call me Vesu.
Vesu strides to where the room opens up towards the armored figures. From the edge of the current chamber, Vesu closes his eyes in concentration. Discerning any ill presences with his divine sense!

Tante Lude nods warily to the half-demon.

"Tante Lude."

Although she's looking that way, her attention is focused more on the chamber ahead of her as she reads the plaque.

The vulture is pretty obvious. No font or water so far but presumably they will appear and we can expect an ambush as we cross. Read history on the walls should be obvious when it appears too. But, right the Gods . . . right hand? Toppled statues? She will stay alert; those two chained figures are obvious but this psycho place never has just one threat; it always has one in reserve as well.

I laugh, a sound like wind chimes in the breeze.

"Whether I'm sweet or sour kinda depends on your perspective. My name is Tinkara. My friends call me Tinks. What's your name?"

Continuing her cheesy smile she informs, "Well. All good. Criella. And if not too much trouble, I will tag along here. Seems I have lost my bearings a bit among other things." as she sheaves her twin scimitar as perceives it to rather safe a current junction of time.

She was sure before that the interior decorator for this place should be hung and quartered after that but now, she is sure the whom ever replace that one needs the same. Purple fungus. Come on now. This really wasn't here before. That be less than a minute. She still can't believe her party scuttled her and how did they do it that so fast. She is smelling wizardry. This bunch appears not be surprised strange things happen. Like her appearance. They too have traveled a bit too much here.

There just isn't enough time for all this change unless there has been. How really long was that a few moments ago. The more she considers thought. They don't act like they saw my party and they would have said something about it. There manor of dress is not current or anything I have seen, and I have been around. How long? She curiously asks slightly aimlessly, "What year is it?" How much time indeed.

Nyx eyes the tiefling, wondering at the mad wizard playing with lives as he does. Is there a reason . . .
You may call me Nyx. he introduces himself to the new individual. At least she is not instantly aggressive. How did you get here? What were you doing before you appeared here? He wonders if she is an agent or like him a victim of the wizards machinations.

Glancing around at the layout he shakes his head and gestures to the north. The room to the north is likely the one that is accessible via the demon mouth statue on the level above. I will send my familiar to verify. With a though he has his familiar fly to the demon mouth status on the floor above and through the darkness to descend the tunnel to the room below

Turning her simple attention to Nyx and gives a broken laugh, "Being here is a questionable thing. I am and I'm not in the same place I was a minute ago. I fear the wizardry of this place has pulled a trick of time on me. I ask again what year is it now so I may understand more."

Nyx shrugs ruefully I fear I can not answer you as well as I am from another place and the callender I know is not the one used here.
I was exploring a similar dungeon and was pulled here by magic. I hope that by adding these others in their quest I may find a way home. Stopping the mad wizard from meddling with others lives would be a grand accomplishment as well.

I will fly over to the railing opposite the north entrance, ready to react to whatever might happen. I will take a seat on the railing and rest my wings.

Wondering Criella watches as Tinkara just flies away and doesn't even answer the question that she has posed her. Criella turns her attention back to Nyx, "I too have thing for the wizardry here. Getting to rate right up there with Undead which I terribly hate." With a hand motion going forward, "Shall we."

Just a sec, I wish to verify the connection between levels and Nyx slips over to the mouth of the north coridor and casta a cantrip with visible effects or focuses on his familiar to use its sences if needed. It the line of sight is verified He dismisses the familiar and resummons it before heading back to the East coridor..

While Nyx is doing his casting, Tante Lude moves over to the half demon and says in a quiet throaty voice, "Many of us are unsure of time. I was dead, I think, I know not for how long. And Tinkara doesn't seem to respond unless addressed directly by name. I guess she is in her own mental world some of the time. "

After he finishes, she moves to the head of the party, casting a quick prayer for Guidance in spotting the tricks, traps, and ambushes that lay in wait.

"Unless someone else wants to take point, I guess it's me. It says the vulture is the first step. So my suggestion is we look down the corridor where we don't see something that would come before it, like the mouth of the jackal, or the chained armors, and head for the T intersection to see a bit further."

"Why thanks Tante. Just tells I'm most likely stuck here. Wizardry withstanding." She looks about and says, "I can't aid at all about this place. But my twin scimitars do talk some for me and I have minor casting ability which includes healing." She will let others lead for sure and now decided to draw both her scimitars out again for action.

And she adds on, "Do avoid doing that again Tante." Obviously referring to dying. With an arcane word and a slight motion of her hand, Tante can now smell a cherry scent around her that competes with Criella's Lavendar scent that Criella has on herself.

I position myself as Tante Lude's air cover, hovering close behind her, high enough to see and cast over her head. I keep light cast on my wand to show the way..

"I'm right behind you, Tante Lude. You're so brave to take point in this dangerous place."

Vesu maintains sword-minded readiness. Even as he takes up position in middle of his party.
Lead on, I will follow and lend Clomayer’s lethality to our darkened success.

Nyx moves into the north tunnel and puts hies head into the jackal's head looking into the room behind it:Four torches illuminate stone sphinxes crouched in the corners of this fifteen-foot-high room. The torches cast flickering light across hieroglyphs carved into the tiled floor. At the center of the room, a gold-inlaid funeral barge stands atop a three-foot-tall stone dais. Resting on the deck of the barge is a small golden sarcophagus decorated with horned rabbits. A shaft opens in the ceiling directly above the barge.

Nyx is surprised to see no familiar in the room. And wait - there is also corpse missing.

A slab of wall to the east suddenly grinds upward, and a dwarf wearing a turban and chain mail creeps into the tomb. He brandishes a shield in front of him as he treads cautiously across the floor.

After he makes moves 5 feet a loud click sounds out as the dwarf steps onto one of the floor tiles. Then a deafening buzzing rises as locusts pour out from the mouths of the sphinx statues, quickly engulfing him. He tries to fight them off, to no avail. When the cloud of insects vanishes, nothing of the dwarf remains except its bones and gear.Tante Lude who is focusing on detect magic announce The jackal mask radiates an aura of divination

---

Tante Lude Proceed through north corridor and see t-shaped intersection has another corridor that ends with crawlway and a 15 foot wide hallway with water to the other side
The smelly mold on the walls occasionally releases clouds of harmless spores. You notice - as you move through areas with tiny eyeballs seldom emerge from the mold to scrutinize you.

"Oh no. Not more liquids and crawl ways. Our last experience with that combination was no fun at all."

"Walk through water with weapon in hand.
Slake your shadow at the font.
The vulture is the first step.
Right the gods.
The walls of history tell all." Tante Lude intones.

"I still don't see a vulture but it does look like this is the water to be negotiated by weapon."

And she didn't feel herself turning into a goat so that was good!

"I hope you are right! I'll be right behind you."

"Just have to love wizard riddles." as she will fall in line with her twin scimitars out.

Tante Lude had her own memories of water. Water and death. She didn't want to go in there first, hopefully someone else would, or figure out how the vulture is the first step. Something other than dying again.

As the others move on past the north corridor he is investigating he returns to the group muttering I doubt the spores the mold is releasing are as harmless as they seem though it covers the entire are so trying to clear it seems a daunting task. But perhaps there is a ways to clear it? and he casts a couple cantrips (mage hand, Druidcraft) as they walk to try and clear the mold from sections of the wall behind them.


When they reach the others at the water he ponders a moment and suggests. Perhaps we should examine the east passage before exploring further here? Or let me have my familiar check the small passage to the east? (southern edge of map east of Tange) If none object he will send his familiar to the right and ask the others to watch over him as he uses the monkeys sense to monitor its progress.

Nyx fail to do anything about the mold with both mage hand and druidcraft. Still puddles of water cover the floor of this fifteen-foot-wide hallway. The walls are slick with moisture and set with murals showing animal-headed humanoids in armor, most of which appear to brandish real weapons hanging on the walls. A three-foot-high crawlway in the east wall is flush with the floor. At the far end of the hall, a rippling, transparent curtain of water fills a stone archway. Beyond the curtain, you see another hallway that looks similar to the one in which you stand.

Nyx sends his familiar to investigate the crawlway.

Mokney report you back that it is dark but on touch it feels like crwalway turns into hallway after a right turn

Once the monkey finds the opening it returns and investigates the crawlspace at the far end of the parties tunnel (west/left end) Nyx relays all he has found to the others

Flying money crawl the other crawlway and report you back that he found it to be blocked (it's a dead end based on your familiar)Taking a better look at the wall murals showing animal-headed humanoids in armor, most of which appear to brandish real weapons hanging on the walls:

Stork-headed males with handaxes (the figure has the crawlway between its legs)
Lizard-headed females with maces
Panther-headed males with blowguns
Unarmed hawk-headed females
Goat-headed males with sickles
Frog-headed females with tridents

I will proceed into the watered hallway, remaining aloft and in the middle, going no further than the crawlway opening. What do I see, looking North (up on the map) from there?

"Hold on friends, while I have a look up the hallway."

"If we're to walk through water with weapon drawn, I think our opportunity may be directly ahead."

I describe what I see to my companions.

"Agree Tinks, but the plaque says 'Vulture is the first step' and I haven't seen that yet. None of those wall murals are a vulture. So, I'd like to check up to the danger point in all the directions to see if we can find a vulture first.

Did your familiar find anything that might fit at the end of the crawlway? If not, there's a door at through that curtain of water we haven't checked yet."

I nod to Tante Lude, accepting her wisdom.

"Let us seek out this vulture then. Lead on, dear friend."

Thinking Criella mentions, "Perhaps the Unarmed hawk-headed females are thought to be Vultures?"

"No, from what I've seen, the clues here are quite literal, if oblique and only obvious after the fact.

I do wonder about the clue. It seems many of these clues are independant. I wonder if the vulture is only relevant for the room within which it stis. Perhaps the room beyond the jackal? The floor is tiled. Perhaps the vulture is on the tiles. But I agree, better safe than sorry we can search more before acting.

The passage was too dark for my familiar to see anything up the crawlway. It did determine that the area opened to a wider hallway after a short distance. I can check again if we give my familiar some light.

Criella mentions, "Shame we don't have a torch or anything else the flying monkey can hold for light."

"I could make it glow with Faerie Fire but it's dim light rather than strong."

"I can cast light on something so your familiar can see, if you like. It's just a cantrip."

Once light is cast on a small pebble Nyx puts a small pouch on a strap over the monkeys shoulder for storing it when he need to douse the light. Nyx then sends Zim back up the crawlspace to investigate, focusing to share his familiars senses.

Half-Demon (more like succubus) Criella ponders that simpler her needs to learn to cast light that way. She can do other things but never thought to learn light since she could see in the dark. Typical Criella doesn't ponder about companions that way. A typical habit since Tiefling her never needed illumination. Odd as explorer her normally tends to simply attach herself well to those she adventures with and concerns.

Doesn't matter with illumination, she can't get her shadow back. It will never return to her. She really never missed it till it was gone. Of course, would be nice to see herself in a mirror too. Something else dearly miss. Makes cleaning up sometimes difficult as well. A good reason she never wears any makeup & such. "Who needs it. I'm beautiful without it."

She believes familiars are cool to have. Not that she tried to summon one. A bat seems something that would appeal to her. The monkey is a "Cute Sweety". It does seem rather beastly though and not with much intelligence.

She watches on silently as her forked tail sweeps about aimlessly. She has thoughts that she could use to stretch her wings out some. Seems "Centuries" since she has. With her wings spread out, she does keep a much more demon look. Perhaps the next room or so will be larger.

I look over at Criella.

"Nice wings. They look sturdier than mine."

I give my thin butterfly wings a shake, and my purple hair floats in the breeze.

"Are they functional, or just part of your rockin' look?"

Smiling and onlooking Criella slightly unfolds her large bat wings partially but the passage is way too narrow to consider much more than that. She replies with a slight smirk, "Sometime sweety. You will see me aloft with them. It is quite a sight I'm told." (Full succubus look)

She adds on smiling, "I catch an eye or two." As surely, your certain Tyfling her intends that. It is obvious she has concern how she appears and does take some notable effort that way. Frequently uses her favored prestidigitation for such. She wishes to maintain herself like a fine treasure.

Years ago, her less than reputable group favored to frequent her for a noticeable distraction as the total rest of her rogue like skills sucked. Which is also why they tossed her out too eventually. Way too much of a risk to have her around. She was informed to never attempt to pick pocket ever again which has a very unfavorable rate of success.

Her bat wings have to be large and strong as they will carry slender Criella's (Goodberry) weight, her breast plate armor and other goodies that she has hidden away in her trusty narrow leather backpack. Still, she can achieve only to fly at 30' and hover about when she has space.

With a word and wave of the hand, Fairy Tinkara now has a lavender scent about her too for an hour to accompany with her violet' ness color. Which now, Criella has max'ed out her Prestidigitation spell. She is maintaining three people with flowery scents.

Note: Criella actually does have a bottle of expensive perfume with her that she treasures some but almost never uses. Nothing like having the real thing. Her spell is only an attempt to imitate the real thing.

I sniff the air appreciatively. What a nice scent!

"Thank you, friend! That's a lovely scent!"

Refolding bat winged Criella easily replies back quickly, "Most any scent you desire sweety. I so much prefer lavender. I passed on cheery for Tante there." She doesn't say it, but Criella believes every females should wear a flowery scent. She does a twist of a simple waving motion toward forward Tante with her jewel handled silver scimitar as she proclaims last of what she informed about Tante.

Monkey fly with a source of light back into tunnel with dead end but is not able to properly explain you what you see, so you have to peak through his ayes. You realize this:
Ahead of you, the face of a snarling minotaur is etched into a sheet of iron that bisects the crawlway. Its eyes have been cut out, letting you see through the sheet, beyond which the tunnel continues onward.Then he crawls the other one and discover tiny room lodged between two crawlway. Continue through next crawlway and you need to again look though it's ayes to understand that this room is illuminated:


A balcony over a vast pit. Between the balconies hover several wooden platforms, each one a disk ten feet across. A single torch burns above each balcony. On the east balcony stands a rough-hewn, fifteen-foot-tall statue of a hulking fiend with furled wings and clenched fists.

Nyx explains all that he learns to the other. (He will always explain as things happen when scouting with his familiar) Nyx then crawls up the west/left crawlway with his familiar. He examine the metal sheet and surrounding area closely. (if noting of interest is found he proceeds as indicated below)
Nyx peers through one of the minotaurs eyes, holding the light pebble up to the other, so he can see further. He then dismissed him familiar to its pocket dimension and brings it back into existence on the other side of the sheet, passes the pebble through the eye hole, and sends the familiar to explore the passage on the far side.

Listening Criella mentions, This place is not the same as I entered here. The style is the same but not the design. Much is different.

Much to her surprise (and what would have been shock from her earlier self), Tante Lude had not really picked up on the new perfume. She had noticed, but had been concentrating on the dungeon. The half-demon was trying to be nice and Tante Lude was being rude not to mention it:

"That's lovely of you to create perfume for us, Criella. I tended to combine spicy and floral for my personal perfumes, usually using a base of cedar and mint then overlaying with different flora such as coconut, orange, or vanilla. If I had real time and a laboratory, possibly hints of cinnamon, coriander, sandalwood, and a fresher but the base was cedar, mint, and a tropical floral scent."

Between focusing on the world through his familiars senses Nyx pretends not to hear the women talking. There may be time to chat later on subjects he felt more comfortable expression opinions on.

Smiling Criella says, "A fine challenge Tante. So, cherry is not super pleasing. Well, let's season with cedar & mint. Should create a refreshing scent." With word and twist of her hand, Tante has a more pleasing scent and the cherry is gone. She allows only a slight scent present with the change.

She mentions, "That is even a touch alluring scent for you."

She wonders what is taking Nyx so long complete the task.

Tante Lude gives Criella what was once a smile that lords fought over.

Pondering Criella wonders and inquires, "Are all of you part of some king's quest or something else?" and Holy Tiefling Slayer Criella adds on "Or is just the riches and fame." Which is more the reason for her.

Seems like it has been forever since she purchased some new silver goodie. Well, "Centuries" to be exact. She figures to easily get enough goods out of this place for such. But the thought to just get out starting to worry her.

"I came to protect a friend, the son of one of my former lovers. I failed. Each of the others have their own reasons I'm sure."

Criella says, "Presiding here isn't one for just anyone. They have called me 'Holy Tiefling Slayer' because of the many undead that I have finished off."
"Truely. I think others could have come up with a better title."

She went on to describe actual royalty that used that title and such. Any can note that anyone she mentions doesn't exist but the lands she speaks of does. Her names are all wrong even though she expresses them as current. Any ruins she mentions also don't exist. All is out of place unless your better at history than her.

She adds on, "Never place a heavy burden on thyself. I have buried many a trusted companion that have met their dire end. Such happens and usually at the worst of timing." She alludes that she has killed many undead and explored other places like this one. She is a professional (Adventurer).

"Adventure is a means to an end for me. Someday I will visit my wrath on those who killed my father and brother. Whatever I can obtain that will hasten that day is welcome to me."

My face darkens as I speak, and hints of flame play along my fingers. With an effort born of long practice, I clamp down on my fury and force my wild magic back under control.

The walls of this narrow tunnel slope inward as they approach the ten-foot-high ceiling. Patches of mold cling to the walls and floor in the eastern half of the hall. Cut into the floor at the west end of the corridor is a three-foot-wide, four-foot-long rectangular hole with bright light spilling out of it.

Flying through the hole you get into next room below it:

This room is shaped like a drum or cylinder lying on its side, with its south end tapering toward a small stone door. Carvings of demons decorate the stonework, with flickering flames in all their eyes.

"On the first two levels, the clues were only useful in hindsight, or for solving the trap after getting caught in it. I'm not saying to throw caution to the winds, but at some point we need to just move forward. The water reference seems relatively straightforward. It's as good a place as any to start, if you ask me.

Onlook Criella mentions, "Well. It is right before us after all. Not that I'm a fan of water. Do lead on." She appears to be ready to move that way with twin swords out and ready for action.

I agree with Tinkara. The clue "Walk through water with weapon in hand." could be read several ways but taking it simply perhaps we just need to walk forwards holding weapons.

I am well prepared to walk through with weapon in hand. That part seems straight forward to me.

"We should do that first then."

Tante Lude starts to step into the water but stops. She doesn't move again, or say anything unless addressed.

Moving Criella will examine the near water area that party hasn't tromped over for sign of passage such as the anything on the floor of the area under the water disturbed. She isn't too concerned if she doesn't note anything. She is a rather experienced tracker and rather preceptive about noticing things. And yes, she is more used to tracking indoors rather than forester type people. And very good at tracking undead which she totally hates. Wizards are getting up there in that rating.

She ponders the thought that she really wants to pick up some tasty snacks. Not that she is ever hungry or anything. But some flavor would be nice. She daunts a shot off her wineskin. With her reaction it obviously isn't water. She is trying to make it last and doesn't sip much of it at a time. She doesn't think that she is going to receive a refill anytime soon.

Criella noticed water motion when Tinkara were flying over the liquid, but it is otherwise water is still

As I fly, I will have my wand in one hand and my hand axe in the other.

"Tante Lude, what is happening? Why have you stopped?

"Last time I went into the water here, I died. I don't want to die"

Then step aside. Why lead if you hesitate? and he walks up, club and shiedl in hand, casting Shillelagh on his cudgle as he does. I will go first then and he steps through the curtain of water. He tries to use the shield to keep his face clear if possible as he steps through, scanning for threats.

Criella will follow in with twin scimitars in hands.

I follow Criella, hovering behind and above her. Axe and wand in my hands, with light cast on my wand.

Nyx curses It said you walk. Do not fly though and he tries to stop Tinkara before she ensure the water curtain

Nyx dismiss his familiar into pocket dimension, casts Shillelagh,then done his shield and steps into the water. Nothing happens as you step into the water and he proceed toward the curtain followed by Criella with two scimitars, Vesuvius and Tante lude has sword and shield, Tinkara Axe and wand.and as you approach the curtain anyone of you who are concentrating on detect magicfeels curtain radiating an aura of conjuration.

But then he stops before reaching the curtain. Criella's wings are still and she is walkingBut Tinkara is flying and Nyx refers to hint that say "Walk through water with weapon in hand" pointing out the verb in the hint.

Cautious Criella is walking as she has folded up her wings and has her twin scimitars in hands. She has interest in the floor area as walking in the water and not paying too much attention to much of anything else. Some reason she just does trust it. She is careful with each step.

With others moving ahead, Lude shakes off her fear and, drawing her warhammer and saying a quick prayer for guidance, steps through the curtain of water following Criella.

Vesu follows along with Clomayer (Longsword) in-hand. His shield is strapped along his left arm, the symbol of the Zhentarim emblazoned thereupon.

"Good point. Thanks Nyx.

I will lower myself into the water to walk through the curtain. These weapons being brandished by the figures on the walls... do any of them happen to be a dagger? I'm grateful for the axe, but I'm not proficient with it. If I could get a dagger I'd feel better.

Nyx pauses and looks at the wall, Curtis about Tonkara's intent. Are those weapons loose? I wonder if we should try to take those instead of our own.

"I'm wary of messing with them, Nyx. And I do appreciate the hand axe so much. But a dagger is really my thing. I had two when I got here. Both lost to the accursed traps in this place.

You could be right though... perhaps the intent is for us to have these weapons in hand. Could go either way, given the devious nature of things in here."

Nyx investigated the wall, hands, and weapons

The weapons hanging on the walls are in poor condition and are held in place with hooks to make it appear as though the painted warriors are holding them. It seems easy to take them off the hooks.

Looking about some, Criella mentions, "I hope these painting don't come off the wall like I did."

"Well, no daggers, or anything else I'm good with. What a pity. Shall we?

"Shall we proceed or shall we take these beat up weapons on the theory that we will need them when the inevitable trap springs?"

I am bound to Clomayer, the sword of my patron. However, I will doff my shield and grip whichever of those weapons in my off-hand that one wishes to toss me.

Listening Criella states, "Unless you have a magical holding thang, I wouldn't be carrying them. Could take them off the walls and pile someplace near. They look to be lesser weapons that I would never be caught using."

Nyx takes the handax from the wall before tossing the sicle to Vesuvius. hanging his club on his belt and ax in hand he shrugs then heads towards the water curtain I do hope this will actually help. he grumbles

Seeing nothing I can use any better than what I already have, I fall into the line headed to the curtain.

Pondering Criella thinks up with a new riddle thought as some characters have taken wall weapons. "I think it best for all of us to take least one weapon off the walls and have it in our hands. Seems that might be what the riddle was warning us." With that thinking Criella returns her off scimitar to its scabbard and takes a wall mace to keep in hand as the riddle seem to say. Criella still hates wizards. She also puts away her silver sword to as to have only the mace in her hands.

Riddle "Walk through water with weapon in hand."

Criella implies it has to be a weapon from the wall since you can remove them. And it is not plural, so one weapon only and not two with one in each hand. She thinks further that it has to be only a weapon from the wall and not one that we own in our hands.

"If that's how we are going to play it, fine."

Tante Lude takes the trident. They were made for spearing fish in water after all.

Thinking Criella advises Tante, "I would get a one-handed weapon to make sure it is in the hand and not hands possible. This is a wizard trap."

"Tridents are fine with one hand, even thrown. I'll be fine and we need weapons for everyone."

Character switch their weapons, Nyx steps through the curtain of water carrying a hand axe. Tinkara with an axe, Tante Lude with Trident, Vesuvius have a hand axe and a sword and Criella with a mace are ready to follow, but

Immediately after Nyx stepping through water erupts from curtain. It flows as a fierce wave toward north to south.

DC 15 Strength saving throw
+5 to the saving throw due to his aura

Criella saves with 31.

Nyx braces against the flood

Water erupts as a fierce wave strong enough to make everyone fall prone and it flushes Nyx and and few more of you crushing into south wall. Some (such as Criella and Tinka) manage to keep their footing and take less damage therefore.Water expelled by the curtain disappears before it can flow beyond the confines of the hallways. The water conjured by the curtain leaks out of the hall through tiny cracks in the floor, leaving puddles behind. Just if few moment hallway is just as it was before and the curtain is in it's place.

"Well, so much for walking! Let's see how flying does!

I take flight, going as close to the ceiling as possible, and fly directly through the curtain (I hope) at top speed.

Unhappy soaked Criella is with the same thoughts as Tinkara and she doesn't fly but she fast foots it to get to the other side of this mess. She isn't waiting to find out if it is going to wash her again or not. So much for riddle solving she thinks and of course still hate wizards.

Picking himself up he misses perhaps we must hold a weapon matching one on the wall and moves to put the rusty handax back onto the hooks before Tinkara touches the water

Criella and Tinkara please roll, let's say an opposed initiative check to see who get there first.

Criella has an average 9.

Tante Lude was slammed by the wave. Squaring her shoulders she breasts the onflow and pushes forward grimly out of the water and to the other side following her companions.

Vesu picks his dark-knightly self up from the waves, and attempts once again to trudge through dungeonous trappings!
Come, friends! We must do this!

Seeing the group moving enmass again Nyx backs up and around the corner as he calls back Perhaps attempt it one at a time so we are not all damaged?

Criella and Tinkara act before the wise druid Nyx suggests to avoid damaging all. Criella reach curtain first and try to move through it, triggering another wave to magically erupt from the curtain. Another fierce wave crush at everyone in the room

Grits his teeth in annoyance, cursing the mage, as he tries to avoid being crushed again.

Everyone do another Strength save

Criella has a successful save for 23.

Criella just fall on her knees but manage to stand her ground just below the curtain and move forward after the wave is gone. She moves toward the north wall and find that water don't enter the left exit which makes another turn toward the north

Still unhappy Criella who is now twice soaked to the bone comes to a complete halt after traversing 10' from the magic curtain of pain with a heavy stressed breath. Lucky for her strength and general training has allowed her to bypass most of the curtain's damage. (She didn't proceed further as she beyond the apparent trap.)

She was so surprised by the fast second wave. Appears there is no limit to how fast the wizard trap can recharge but she is glad to be on the other side of it. Unfortunately, at the same time she realizes the entire rest of her party isn't. She quickly views on to the resulting mess of the washed party that has transpired and deeply frowns. Oh. How much she hates wizards.

As she looks on, she cancels her lavender scent and begins to dry herself off with prestidigitation. She can place the lavender scent back after she does what she may to clean up herself. Not fearing an immediate attack, she still has the mace ready. Even her tail shakes off the water and she unfolds her wings a bit too as well to dry them.

No sense in saying anything as it is obvious to everyone what the score is.

Another wave staggers Tante Lude. Clearly she is going at this stupidly . . . again.

Completely over it after getting knocked about again, I cast enlarge on myself and charge the water curtain on foot. That gives me advantage on strength checks.

Nyx steps around the corner. Hopefullybefore he can take more abuse from reckless teammates triggering traps

Tante Lude shouts, "TINKS, STOP! THAT WILL HIT EVERYONE WITH ANOTHER WAVE."

But she braces herself knowing that her shout may not have been in time.

"Around the corner quickly then! This spell is short!"

Nyx manage to step around the corner while Tinkara is chanting her spell words and Tante Lude manage to delay Tinkara's movement to give everyone else time to follow Nyx Yet another wave comes from the curtain when Tinkara steps into it, but this time she manages to keep her footing despite.

Constitution save. I would like to maintain the spell for the entire minute if I can.

If the water has been going on the other side of the curtain as well, I will go quickly around the corner.

We can keep trying ideas or just take the damage and go through. I can give everyone a prayer (guidance) that might help you stand up to the wave; anyone else have either another idea or a way to help us bull through?

And, the next one to go through, talk to those already through to see if they learned anything. Someone who can send thoughts or messages should probably go through next.

I will go Nyx says.

I have telepathy by it usually requires me to see the target. But i still try

He established a telepathic link, wildshapes into a cave bear and goes through

Bear squeeze through taking some damage (9 HP) while everyone else securely wait behind corners

I'll describe what you can see there later, for now only visual map of what Criella and Tinka see
Obviously - stork-headed malehas the crawlway between its legs in the this - reflected room



Now as Tante Lude (ans others as well, but she has best PP, so let's say she is first to notice) were standing in safety could observe that water from seems to go through a section of the east wall. Unarmed hawk-headed females mural. Touching the surface of wall reveals that its stones and the images on them are illusions.

Alcove hidden behind 5-foot-wide, 8-foot-tall illusion of damp stone wall bearing painting of hawk-headed female warrior contains a plinth bearing a crystal eyeball 1 inch in diameter: a pale purple eyeball.

Attempts to speak to the wildshaped druid through the telepathic link: "What do we need to know coming through?"
 "If y'all will move around a corner or something, I will take that eyeball with my telekinesis."

I'm assuming the eyeball is on the other side of the water, if not, I will take it once all the others are through.

Nyx you see Tante Lude and you could even hear (though barely) what she is saying on the other side of the water curtain. And you saw how she touched the mural and her hand disappeared into the wall. Vesuvius orders everyone to move around the corner. Bear manage to squeeze into the west corridor. And Vesuvius moves through holding sword and a hand axe only to trigger the wave again. He don't give up and try again. Then again. After third attempt he admits that he have taken too much damage and asks You want me to keep trying?

Did you add the guidance to Vesusius's Strength/Athletics save? If that's allowed, it should get him through on the second try I think. IF not, Tante Lude will ask him to accept healing before trying again.

Then once he is through and she is alone on the other side, with the eyeball picked up telekinetically (if I understand where it is) and deposited in a wrap and into her backpack, she will try to go through herself, again using guidance to improve the athletics save if possible.

IF Vesuvius comes over, I will cast Healing Word on him 3 times.

Vesuvius pray his gods and feel better. He keep trying

After Vesuvius finally makes it through Tante Lude follow . She enter curtain still holding trident. This time wave does not trigger

"Walk through water with weapon in hand.
Slake your shadow at the font.
The vulture is the first step.
Right the gods.
The walls of history tell all.

Tante Lude repeats the clues. I do not know why it worked for me and no one else; if someone does, enlighten me, I'm feeling a bit thick-headed. I also need some healing and can do a bit for myself or others. Anyone else have healing after those waves?

Next step seems to be casting a shadow over the font where the water originates. But first, healing."

Lude casts a healing word on herself, waiting for others to speak up.

You said where the water goes through; where does it come from?

"Tante Lude, you are carrying the eye. Perhaps that's why you didn't trigger the trap."

"That's a definite possibility though it doesn't fit the lines from the plaque.

Whoever has the mace, want to trade it for the trident? If we need to use these things, I've never fought with a trident."

"My experience is that we only figure out the plaques afterwards. They're meant, I think, to be ironic. Not real clues that help us avoid the traps."

Prestidigitation dried Criella agrees, "Does seem removing the eye disable the trap." as she has her lavender scent back. She chuckles, "I see that."

Where is the water for this trap coming from?

I will fly 15' north in the hallway and peer around the corner to the right (east). From the map it looks like there is a door. Can you describe what it looks like, please?

The corridor turns sharply to the left. At the corner just before the turn, a peephole is carved into the stone wall at a height of 6 feet.
The peephole forms one end of a 5-foot-long tube cut through the solid rock wall.As you fly west you realize the corridor ends at a block of stone on which is painted a seven-foot-tall jackal-headed humanoid with a circular gold medallion around its neck. All around the figure are carvings of locusts.

You discover also a crawlway north turning east.

Dryer curious Criella will edge forward and carefully peer around the passageway's corner at the forward door for safety watch as her tail moves about idlily.

That takes more than a minute for money to crawl the crawlway that turns in different directions several times until creature informas she see a bear. Nyx realize the monkey has reached the east crwlway exit.


Criella see a door hear nothing but Tinkaras wings swinging in the air (and any other PCs moving if they do).
Bear mostly smells the terrible smell of rotting corpses that still comes from purple mold, quite a bit of lavender and some of party member sweat.

With informed guessing lavender Criella will move up some further in the hallway forward of way to the doorway, so door people can access it easily and not have to bustle past her and also because she totally doesn't plan to be the innocent victim opening it.

She will drop the useless mace on the side edge of the nearby passageway (Litter) out of general walking area and draw out her twin scimitars to her hands and ready for action.

I move to the spot just north of where Criella was standing, so I have a view of the door when it is opened.

"I would say this door is calling us. If someone will open it I can cover you."

Criella moves 5' more to the north.

Nyx sends his monkey over the others heads to the far side of th group to watch their backs. (to the spot Tinkara is on the map above)

Sending to the others telepathically Let me now if you need my help with anything specific. Otherwice I will stay at the back, in bear form, for now

"Is the door actually calling to you or was that just a careless figure of speech, Tinkara?"

Tante Lude casts a quick prayer for guidance to spot anything about the door and examines it carefully. Then, if neither Tinks nor her own senses stop her, she opens it.

"In this place, it wouldn't have surprised me," she muttered.

Tande Lude find no evidence of any magical of physical traps on the doors

This chamber contains a stone font filled with a steaming green liquid. Beyond it, a shadowy figure stands at an open door on the far side of the room. The figure's back is toward you. After a moment you realize that figure dressed just like Tante Lude, though you can't see it's face (it is back to you).

East of the font is a small, dusty, empty room

"This can't be good. Be careful, Tante Lude. I'm right behind you."

I move into position above and behind Tante Lude, and prepare to cover her from whatever mischief this is.

The smart thing to do would be to blast this doppelganger of myself in the back right now. If I too the damage, I can heal it. If it's what I think, the whole group will be facing their own images and a head start would be welcome. And of course, there's a way to avoid the whole fight based on these cryptic clues that we would spend forever seeking but will show up after it's over.

But though I try to talk myself into it, I can't make myself shoot a version of myself in the back. I can prepare though, raising my shield high and praying for a twilight sanctuary for myself and my teammates to give them some temporary hit points in whatever is coming.

Having a flash of insight, I remember the clue "Slake your shadow at the front."

"Slake your shadow at the front, Tante Lude!"

I cast Faerie Fire (using my innate ability as a fairy) on the copy of Tante Lude. Violet light.

DC 16 Dex save.

"Font, like fountain, not front Tinks. We've got that green bubbly thing, can we get the fake me into it?"

Laughing with a sound like wind chimes."I don't have any spells that force movement. I could try to draw it towards us.

Stone font affected by Tinkara's fills room with dim Violet light for the duration. The figure seems to avoid the spell effect though.
The dim light created by Tante Lude's dine magic overlaps with the violet one. In the dim light you all notice that the figure moved her hand when Tante Lude moved her shield to activate holy symbol on the shield

Lude tries to puppet walk the figure in the room toward the green font by moving her own body here outside the room.

Actually I would probably be more likely to push into them gently, assuming they will give me the space. (a) I'm concentrating on what I'm doing, and (b) I am not moving fast but slowly, trying to make sure the mimicked motions are having the desired result.

I adjusted the description of throwing the twilight sanctuary to indicate raising my shield into high guard position and praying.

As you move slowly it copy your movements perfectly.

I am focused on watching and moving the figure to the font. If I see Tinks and Criella at all, it will be incidental or if they grab me to try to get my attention.

Tante Lude move backward and the figure move with her. Tinks and Criella have to give her way moving north and south as Tante Lude realize the figure is illusory and it moves "into the font".

"Well, that's interesting. If the other you is an illusion, then what are we supposed to do? Should we try doing a little damage to it? I could try a Firebolt or Ray of Frost."

Pantomime drinking from the well. To "slake" a thirst you drink Nyx send to Tante

"Oooh, good idea, Nyx!"

"No Tinks," Tante Lude responded without taking her focus off the figure. "Unless it attacks us, let's try to resolve this without harm for once."

She didn't respond to the bear's voice; it didn't seem to need a response. She was far from sure she had enough fine manipulation with this system to get the simulacrum to drink though she would try to do that first. She might have to just get it to put its head into the font and hold it there until it was force to breath in water. We would see.

With the figure actually in the font and its head apparently under water, she pantomimed drinking deeply, going so far as to pull her water flask off her belt and drinking from it.

Figure slurps up the "soup" draining the font in a minute. Once the font is drained of illusory soup, a 1-inch-diameter eyeball made of incandescent orange crystal appears at the bottom of the font.
Figure is still there.

On watching Criella is just wow'ed by all this. She watches slightly dumfounded. Wizards are strange. She says rather uselessly, "Another eye."

Tante Lude uses her Telekinesis to remove the eye from the font and float it over to herself, where she wraps it and stores it, again without touching the actual surface of the eye.

"We have walked through the water, slaked the shadow, we are looking for the vulture. Then I assume we need to fix fallen statues of the gods and read the walls of history which appear when we have finished the other steps. Vulture anyone?"

"Let's go!"

"Good idea!"

I head towards the room to the west. I'll stop at the entrance.

As you fly north the corridor turns sharply to the left. At the corner just before the turn, a peephole is carved into the stone wall at a height of 6 feet.
The peephole forms one end of a 5-foot-long tube cut through the solid rock wall.

Room to the west ends at a block of stone on which is painted a seven-foot-tall jackal-headed humanoid with a circular gold medallion around its neck. All around the figure are carvings of locusts.

You discover also a crawlway north turning east.

Not be in the way Criella slides to next to the door to allow others to pass easily and pulls her tail in along with her to avoid it getting trampled.

I approach and examine the painting and medallion.

"I wouldn't; I have a bad feeling that's a trap. Maybe have your familiar look through it if you are carrying what you need to resummon it if necessary."

Tinkara realize that "medallion" is actually a 6-inch-diameter gold disk engraved with the face of a horned devil, its mouth agape. She see a hieroglyph of vulture (similar to one she saw in the room with hieroglyphs carved into the tiled floor) through the mouth.

As she start investigating carvings of locusts one of them appears to be a button as she press it. Immediately as she press it the stone block sinks into the floor, creating an open passage to the tomb with hieroglyphs carved into the tiled floor. (same does the jackal-headed humanoid and medallion as it is attached to the stone block).There are two dead bodies in the tomb - one of them is Vatoris - your artificer companion's body you left to investigate the tomb and other is the dwarf from text blow. Flying monkey meanwhile makes another crawl through the crawlway to find nothing that would seems of an interest to the animal and returns to peek through the peephole. It informs you to see Tinakra's head.

Curious Criella hears the stone movement and moves to investigate. She moves around the turning way and ends up next to adventurous Tink to view the new exposed room.
"Hm. What do we have here Tink."

Nyx watches through his familiars eyes at the open passage to the room to the east

"Well, there's a vulture hieroglyph in the mouth of the demon medallion. The vulture is the first step, the plaque said. There was a tile with that hieroglyph in this room, too. Maybe we step on that tile first? Or maybe that sets off the trap, and that's how the dwarf died. Hard to say which. What do you all think?"

On looking Criella says to Tink, "We can fly and avoid the floor trapping, but I say by looks it is best to jump from vulture tile to vulture title as a guess."

"Could be, Criella. I'd have to fly from tile to tile, though. Short legs, y'know.

I wiggle my legs at Criella.

"Shall we give it a go?"

Amused Criella says to Tink, "You know that is a wild guess and in our case flying straight the center might be wiser."

"Let's find out unless someone has a better idea about all these tiles and such?" Winged Criella is starting to unfold her huge bat wings some in preparing to short leap into nearby air and safely fly to the obvious center in full succubus mode and being careful of her forked tail.

"Thank you Nyx."

With the eyehole not being a trap in itself, Tante Lude turned her focus to the next trap. She turned to the two winged beings.

"So far, the clues have been literal and not to follow them precisely, insofar as they can be interpreted, seems to set off the next trap. I think Tinkara has the right of it. Stepping from vulture tile to vulture tile until we reach the center makes sense and wearing that vulture medallion while doing it does as well.

Thank you for volunteering to be our explorer."

Tante Lude decides that when they do explore, she will step back around a corner or with partial cover from pillar as long as she doesn't have to go back through the water trap to do so. Better careful than dead, as they say.

"Nobody lives forever, Tante Lude."

I take the gold medallion and fly to the nearest vulture tile, landing neatly on it. I pause to see if anything happens.

I fly to the nearest vulture tile and land gently on it.

When Tinkara lands on the tile with vulture - stone block rises rapidly, sealing the entrance once again.

While flying monkey who never saw which locusts carving is a button take it's time to try push each of them Nyx realize he see serpent on the medallion not a vulture as Tinkara mentioned before. Did she made a mistake?
That's when monkey finally finds the button press it to make stone go down again and Nyx to wonder what he just saw. As it goes down everyone see Tinkara and a lot of locusts around here

Tante Lude find nothing but a proof that stone is moving magically, she do notice the painting of a serpent in the medallion.

Meanwhile Criella moves to the peephole. It's height is perfect for her to look into. Unlike the flying monkey who was casually looking into it previously she is able to close one aye and stabilize her vision and realize that thanks to either magnifying lenses or magic it would allow a clear view of the gold medallion if flying monkey were not blocking that view.

More over as she is concentrating on the view she realize she just got a telepathic link to another person. She experienced hearing Nyx this way, but never talking back, so this is a shocking for a moment.

---

Meanwhile Tinkara fly to the next tile of a vulture. The moment she lands on the vulture all four statues yawn and masses of magically summoned locusts fly out of their mouths. The locusts form a single cloud that fills area around and above Tinkara, attacking her

I let out a squeal of surprise and pain. I fly out of the cloud of locusts and out of the room, going behind Tante Lude and as far beyond asy movement allows.

As Tinkara flies past, Tante Lude fires off a quick Healing Word at the suffering fae.

Nyx confers with the others while Tinkara is healed, reviewing all that they know. If the hieroglyph on the medallion is changing then maybe that indicates the path to take. Check it again now that we re-opened the door. If it is back to the vulture, which is the beginning, then the amulet must show the path to take. he proposes a course to take and volunteers to be the one to test the path.

"Whew, that was close! Thank you, Tante Lude!"

I turn and look back into the room to see if the cloud of locusts is still there.

locusts is still there, bot don't move and don't follow you
Criella feels she has lost the telepathic link too soon

Viewing Criella as she is looking through the magical peephole lets our party know, "While Tink was lost in that room, I somehow had some telepathic link to something/someone while viewing through this magical tube. With the block back in Lower position, the telepathic link is broken before I could work with it."

Perhaps this puzzle requires a team effort? One inside, one outside, and perhaps my familiar to monitor things inside to me out here/

"Let's see if I can take care of those locusts."

I try casting a Firebolt at the locusts.

Firebolt pass through swarm of locusts. Magic fail to find any object or creature to hit. Luctus it passes through are either unaffected or disappear - hard to tell, there is so much of them and they move so quickly, but you don't see any of them falling on the ground dead.

As you keep talking, throwing cantrips at the swarm of locusts or elsebut the cloud disappear magically on about a minute.

"The locusts didn't disappear when you pressed the button. Tinks, did they appear as soon as you stepped on the slab or only after the door closed and with a slight delay, possibly when the button was pressed?"

"Tante Lude, as far as I could tell, as soon as I touched the second vulture tile, the statues opened their mouths and the locusts came out. Clearly they are not vulnerable to my magic, and appear to be almost illusory, but I can attest that they are not."

I gingerly rub my bitten arms.

"So maybe one vulture tile then a different tile. It was only the second vulture tile that got you attacked.

Do you need more healing?"

"I am reluctant to overtax your powers, but those locusts almost killed me. A few more bites and you'd have been out a fairy. If you feel like you can spare the spell, then yes please."

"Of course, Tinks. We need you. If you are not close to fully healed I will do it again; I can always use a higher level spell if we need healing later."

"Without a means to deal with the locust, this is going to make testing painful. Must have something to deal with the selection of tiles. Second vulture tile is a no no."

"Any clues from other levels that might apply?"

Onlooking Criella replies back to Tante, "I truly don't believe this place is the same as when I entered. Changes. I doubt anything that me & my crew had perceived before here is of little use. This place is worse than Torman Temples." Her reference to "Torman Temples" has zero meaning short of history check as they don't exist now centuries later.

I received the additional healing with gratitude.

"The door closed after I stood on the first vulture, did it not? Did the figure central to the medallion change? And at what point did it open again?"

I can send my familiar to step on the first stone again while we watch the medallion on the door. I cam communicate with my familiar through the stone and guide it as long as you tell me if the medallion changes. Nyx suggests to the rest, as he was not watching the medallion himself during the earlier crisis. The medallion glued to the floor may also be a clue but we should check the one on the stone block first.

Vesuvius answers Tinkara:
Yes The block raised after you landed on the first vulture tile.
Stone block lowered again when the monkey push the button concealed as a locust. Presumably same as you did the first time. I didn't manage to see if the figure in the medallion changed - monkey and its wings obscured the vision. Nyx - perhaps you know if it changed? Nyx shared with everyone that he saw through his familiar ayes a serpent on the medallion, not a vulture. No idea when and how did it change.

"if we're not in a hurry, I could stand a rest. Short at a minimum, preferably long."

"IF we need a long rest, I can heal still and cast the protective force bubble again."

"I'm off only 13 HP and I can heal that and others if needed right now."

Helpful Criella will cast multiple lifegiving cure wounds spells on Tink and sees what that does as far as healing Tink. (Dice Lord killed those rolls.) Yes. The succubus thing can heal Tante. And no sulfur and brimstone doing it.

Her castings have a druidical (Ranger) feel to them rather than a clerical feel. She uses a yen wand from a holder on her narrow leather weapon girdle as a spellcasting focus. She does not call upon a deity but rather force of nature about for casting the cure wounds. Although she does have quite a bit of silver jewelry and the like on her, none of it is religious orientated. A good guess would say she doesn't follow a deity.

"Well. At least you will not fall from a puff of air now." While thinking about it she renews the scents on herself and the other two. An hourly duty. she has easily refolded up her huge bat wings that were slightly out as she was thinking to fly to the center of that room. Her forked tail just wanders a bit from side to side. It appears aimless.

She says to Tante, "Protective bubble sounds interesting and inviting."

"Relax a minute and let me heal you both."

Tante Lude starts casting more cures. First she brings a healing twilight glow around her, bathing Tinkara in healing light for a full minute or until she is fully healed. Then she turns and moves the healing to Criella (Aura of Vitality, 30 points healing to Tinkara, 9 points to Criella) then adds a Healing Word for Criella (Criella fully healed).

"Now, as some of us need spell recharges, let me cast the protective force shield and we can all take a long rest."
Then Lude moves into the force dome and composes herself for another rest.