(S09) Tomb of Crushing Despair

The caterpillar like creature approached them and its tone was amiable enough that the party seemed to slightly relax. However after some conversation it made it very clear. They were to stay here and perish as whatever spirit made up the being they knew as Zenari had to be killed as it was one of the 64 rebels of Dal Quor.

Attempting to open a mental contact with the creature, it immediately took absolute control of Zenari and casually made her walk into the nearby river. Pine and Siax quickly retrieved her with the creature not stopping them but only observing. It seemed curious about them. 

Attempting to find a way out Idris engaged it in conversation, finding out that one of them could survive if they made a pact with the creature, promising to be its body back in the material realm. The situation turned more tense by the second but thankfully it was at that point that a portal tore through the air behind them and Zatharius stepped out. Deftly dodging a bolt from the creature he uttered a spell, freezing it and gestured to the party to enter the portal. As they did, the spell holding the creature failed and it lunged forward, seemingly swelling in size and crashing against the portal as it closed. 

They were back in the tower, the library feeling almost pervasively calm in comparison to where they had been. 

Zatharius explained that they had been waiting for Zenari which caused them to get separated. He seemed a tad disappointed that they had not found out the name of the spirit that made up Zenari and he told them that unfortunately there was nothing else he could do to help them. He could possibly do research later on but now there was nothing more he could do. 

However after seeing Zenari be overwhelmed by the situation he signed and gave her a ring with an odd gemstone in the center. He explained that this was a ring of mind shielding that he was loaning to her. It would prevent the creatures from snatching her back to the plane of dreams without her say so. 

Perhaps the wizard had a softer side? Idris asked him if he could transport them to the Dragon Barrow where in he smiled and said yes. But he wouldn't. With a snap the party found themselves at the bottom of the tower.

Pine attempted to clean e this land of the undead taint but it was as if one was trying to dry up the ocean with a small towel. Resting a bit the party set out for the next destination, the barrow where the Lady Tanamere Alagondar was reputable laid to rest alongside her companions and the slain dragon, Azdraka as rumours indicated there was a dragon slaying sword buried there.

The trip there was mostly uneventful. They were able to camp and rest and apart from seeing a figure in the distance nothing disturbed their way. He looked like a warrior clad in furs but he did not interfere with them other than to watch their passage. 

Following Zatharius's instructions they found the barrow. It was relatively clear of vegetation. A thirty-foot-high hill rose ahead of them, its top too flat to be a natural occurrence. Jutting from the grassy hilltop was a row of ten-foot-tall, bone-white rocks that arced toward the sky like outstretched talons. Each stone seemed to be a massive ten foot slab. 

The shape of the barrow being dragon shaped was made ear quickly and Pine excavated the head for some time finding it carved in the shape of a dragon, glass spheres in place of the eyes. No entrance however. 

Meanwhile Idris had found one stone that would possibly beoved. Laying a hand upon it a small voice spoke out inquiring what his aim was here. Answering that he wished to use the sword to help and protect the voice seemed satisfied. No entrance appeared however and it was only when Pine used his recently acquired masonry knowledge to construct a pulley system (that received a shaky approval from Factoré who had seemed downcast since their trip to Dal Quor) the party was able to pull stone out to reveal a two foot wide entranceway, a spiraling staircase leading downwards.

Koraliki Verque refused to enter, her recent nightmare strong in her mind but after Idris infused her with a sense of heroism after a short speech she timidly joined the others as they descended. 

The barrow was small and cramped with barely seven feet from floor to ceiling. Several passages went in multiple directions. Unexpectedly small lights appeared down a corridor as if someone was there with a lantern. Faint words could be heard. 

Aproaching carefully Idris saw a strange sight. A small circle of electrical energy, it buzzed around and repeated what he said, small innocent sounding giggles eminating from it. It seemed to want him to follow down a passage. Stepping that way Idris felt the floor suddenly give way. He fell and impaled himself on four swords that had been arrayed in such a way as to cause maximum injury. Such was his suprise that the effect of the bravery he had given Koraliki Verque faded instantly. The small sphere approached him as he lay there bleeding and the giggle he heard did not sound as innocent as before. 

Zenari stide forward and tried to push one away but it fed of her magic, adding the thunder from it to its own. With a gasp Siax recalled what these were. Will O' Whisps, notable for leading travellers into dangerous situations. They were known for being hard to hit and for shocking their foes. With rising horror Siax knew what aspect made them truly dangerous however. If such a creature found you if asleep or unconscious it would strike one dead in a single instant!

Two other spheres streamed in from different directions. Somehow the darkness of the barrow seemed to deepen. Would they join the dead here?