Chapter 2: Do-si-do with Dame Fortune

Inside the chamber, the air is cool, but comfortable. It reminds Baraq of being in the wind soaring over the land.

Aera, you don't remember anything about this figure, but it is old. You notice some scuffing along the shield on his chest, almost as if it had slid up and down, like a giant button on the sarcophagus.

Cat, similarly you don't really remember anything useful about this figure, other than the fact that kings are sometimes interred with riches that they possessed during life.

Xavena, you try desperately to remove the lid, but it's as if someone glued it in place!

Please give me a flat strength check, at advantage if anyone assists you.

The two avians, working in concert with one another manage to find a pair of tiny depressions on either side of the shield. Pushing them down, there is a small click, and then a single shove down on the shield causes the sound of gears to roll and creak all around you.

The top of the sarcophagus silently glides into the air on shafts of glittering metal, slowly rising from the base as the head of the stone box, furthest from the entryway, slides into the floor, revealing a five foot wide stone staircase that descends deep into the mountain. A subtle light blue glow emanates from the passage, beckoning you inward.

You start to head down the stairs, the pale blue light making the torch largely unnecessary. The staircase heads deeper and deeper, getting to the point that you can't see anything behind or in front of you aside from more stairs. They are smooth, and perfectly cut. There is no way to spot any level of wear on them. No dips, no bevels, nothing. No dust covers any surface and a steady cool breeze moves through the passage. The passage winds and turns at various points until none of you is certain of your orientation.

After a ten minute trek, the stairs finally flatten out and reveal a circular room with three doors and a doorway. You enter from the southern doorway and see the three exquisitely crafted doors on the north, east, and west points of the room, as indicated by a massive mithral compass rose inlaid into the black stone floor, stretching easily across the twenty foot diameter of the chamber. At the very center of the room is a basin filled with blue fire. Each door has a sigil worked into the design. To the west, a sword with the point to the ceiling. To the east, a tower shield. Finally, to the north a crown, with flames on the tips of the points.

As you press against the door, the shield starts to glow bright red around the edge. Then, without so much as a sound, the door shifts and slides deep into the floor, revealing a small room with three alcoves on the walls without the door. A dwarf, an elf, and a human stand impassively, carved of cold stone. Each holds a shield in front of them. A symbol is inlaid on the floor of a golden scepter within a twisted wooden crown.