Chapter 5

Players:
Christian (M) /Isabelle (F) Pathfinder
Brett (M) /Owein (M) Paragon
Sandy (F) /Dacie (F) Corsair ; Sylph
Kathy (F) /Eric (M) Huscarl
Stephen (M) /Sayer (M) Incantist
Corey (M) /Elisa (F) Priestess

Isabelle ran her hands across the worn masonry. Admittedly, the mosaics were indeed very beautiful, portraying stories of the seven gods and goddess of the world, including the forgotten goddess. To think that all of this sprang from her imagination was difficult to believe. The world had such a reality to it; even after only a few days here, the thought of living in the other world now was becoming difficult to believe. Returning to that world seemed more like a dream than actual reality.

“It’s a crypt.” Elisa whispered; the priestess had not released her light. Torches, although helpful, would get in the way if they actually found a passage into the stone building.

“I know.” The Baroness watched the others out of the corner of her eyes. Except for the two of them, the rest were caught up in the idea of finding hordes of wealth within the ruins.

“That’s right, did you write about this place as well.”

“No, mostly just an overview of valley and the ruins themselves; the individual places we have been searching through are as much a mystery to me as they are to you. Something else filled in the gaps.”

“Philip?”

“I guess.” The Baroness smiled.

“I still cannot believe this is Mercia. If I hadn’t pinched myself a dozen times I would have thought that this was surely a dream, well closer to a nightmare for me.”

“You seem…” Isabelle began.

“Less crazed.” The priestess closed her eyes. “Trust me; I haven’t come to grips with what exactly is happening to me; far from it. However, there is warmth from the outside that is helping me keep it together. It feels, maternal really.”

“Good, I was worried.”

“It’s not all bad, if nothing else I think I understand you better. “

Isabelle reached over and held her friend’s hand for a moment.

“I am worried about…Kathy.”

The two turned to look at the Huscarl who was busy helping Sayer searching through a mound of rubble.

“She…he doesn’t want to talk about it.” The Priestess sighed. “Christian…I want to go home.”

“We will.”

“By the goddess, I hope so.” The small white robed young woman walked away, her hands moving along a wall. “I have no feel for Ilithar children.” Elisa frowned as she continued to touch the wall with her small fingers. “Nothing at all; true, I’m new at this, so I don’t really know what to expect; but if the goddess of death spawn resided in this tomb I should know, right? Even so, I don’t like this place.”

The party had been searching for a way into the crypt for some time already. The Baroness could see that they were close to giving up, hopefully they would forget that as a Pathfinder she had ways of discovering secret routes. Running her hands lightly along the same walls, she could feel the runes, markings that would allow the party to proceed deeper into the darkness.

Turning towards the party, Elisa shouted. “We need to leave; it’s getting late.”

The Baroness nodded, not that she had the same abilities but something deep inside said that the party should leave well enough alone.

“A little while longer.” Owein called out.

“Owein, I recall something about Pathfinders being able to find secret passages.” Dacie, who had been half way up a wall called out. “There is something here, I can feel it.”

The Sylph must be feeling the enchantment that would allow the party to proceed, the Baroness thought.

The Captain of Dragoons swung his head around. “That’s right.”

Reluctantly, there was no helping it apparently; Isabelle completed the simple enchantment revealing a staircase leading downwards.

“Isabelle.” The Sylph walked to the top of the stairs. “Why?”

“I don’t like this place.”

“Neither do I.” Elisa walked over to stand by her friend. “Eric, we don’t need to be here.”

The large Huscarl nodded. “Perhaps it’s for the best, Owein.”

“Please, when are we going to have another chance? Just a couple of rooms, then we leave. If we run into anything we cannot handle we run, right. Elisa, you haven’t felt any undead? None of the Ilithar children inhabit the ruins, right?”

“There are much worse things than animated corpses and shades.”

“Yes, I know, Baroness. However what I said before still stands. Once we get back to one of the big cities, we are going to need coin.”

“Sounds good to me.” The Incantist said with excitement in his voice.

The Sylph nodded, rubbing her hands together.

“Would be nice to find something.” Eric grinned. “I mean, Elisa all you talk about after one of your games is all of the treasure you’re found, sort of like hunting for buried treasure.”

“More like grave robbing.” Isabelle whispered.

“Excellent, so we will only search a few rooms, maybe a half a dozen or so. Same party order as before, Eric you lead. Trust me, your Excellency, we won’t go far.”

Descending into the tomb, the rest of the party began to babble with excitement about finding treasure, leaving the Baroness and Priestess standing alone at the top of the stair.

“I guess we should follow them.”

Isabelle nodded. “Like we have much of a choice.”

Below the surface the dwellers of the city had placed their dead deep inside carved out catacombs displayed in small vestibule that would lead off into larger rooms for prayer. The underground chambers were more than a small hole dug out of the ground; the walls were reinforced with cut stone, in certain chambers, expensive marble. Beautiful archways were adorned with plaster castings, of daily lives of those who lived in the city. Even the air seemed fresh; whatever magics kept the dust away from the floors as well.

For the people who lived here before, this was a place to come and speak with their ancestors. The bodies would lovingly be cleaned and placed in small alcoves for a time of mourning.Afterwards, the remains would be moved into another room so a new body could be arranged. After a period, the skeletons of the dead ended up decorating the walls, while their skulls were normally piled on top of one another, set into the walls like some macabre mosaic. They were considered the eternal guardians, protectors of the paths into the underworld.

Unfortunately for the party, the bodies were not buried with grave goods; however it wasn’t the bodies of the common folk for which they searched the ruins. No, the important families had their own areas where grave goods and items for the pleasure of the worshipers could be found. So far the party had acquired several small golden offering bowls, and a handful of small ruby like gems that had adorned some of the skulls. Not the best of starts, but not terrible either.

Elisa felt uncomfortable with the party’s actions. Back home, looting such a place like this would have been exciting, now it just felt wrong.

“How much time left on your blessing?” Isabelle asked the worried priestess.

“We should be good as long as we don’t spend a lot more time down here. You think they are happy with the bowls and gems?”

Isabelle grimaced. “No.”

Owein shouted to the party as they came across a sealed door. “Looks like we found what we came for.”

Eric looked over the door; the entrance had been covered with soft rock and plaster. It should be easy enough to break through with a little muscle, he mused. Without even asking the rest of the party, the Huscarl swung the reinforced butt of his ax shattering part of the mortar.

“Wait!” Elisa started to move forward. As the weapon struck, the priestess felt for a moment a darkness descend upon the place.

“Stop worrying so much, we are fine.” Owein laughed. He too joined the Huscarl and with one big push, topped the sealed entrance to the ground.

“That’s what I’m talking about!” Sayer pumped his fist into the air. “Look at that.”

Elisa light washed over the room revealing a chambered adorned with wall hangings, beautiful crafted golden chairs and marble tables. At the back of the room lay a small, family shrine and against the back wall three heavily adorned stone sarcophagi.

“Wait, please?” The Sylph raised her hand; the simple gesture brought everyone to a halt. With a light touch she slowly took a couple of steps into the room. “Can you see that, Sayer?”

The Incantist looked confused for a moment, then nodded. The Sylph obviously could see into the arcane, the force of magic that permeated the land. “It’s some sort of enchantment.”

“Can you remove it?” The Sylph touched the ground lightly with her left hand. “I don’t see any mundane traps.”

Perhaps, taking a few steps forward, the Incantist set about studying the enchantment and the proper way to remove it. “It doesn’t appear to be a trap, something else perhaps, seems tied to this room.”

“I don’t like it.” Isabelle walked forward, taking a good look into the room for the first time.

“There are other guardians, remember, family spirits, constructs or even an elemental.”

“That would be good news then.” The Office of Dragoons laughed.

“Why?” The Huscarl began to move some of the debris out of everyone’s path.

“Because they have something they want protected.”

Elisa looked up at the Baroness who only shrugged. “He isn’t wrong.”

The Sylph moved into the room, making sure not to step on those colored floor stones. “Stay away from those; be better if we didn’t summon whatever is guarding this room.”

Several more steps forward and the oil lamps that adorned the walls came to life. Laughing Owein moved into the room followed by Eric. “All excited about noting them, then a way to light the room.”

“Come on put your backs into it.” The Sylph giggled as the three men tried to force the lid from one of the sarcophaguses to the floor. To everyone the Corsair’s excitement at the prospects of opening the stone coffin was for purely personal gain. However, that would be wrong. She was a digger from way back, wandering ancient ruins with her grandfather since she was a child. Not for the first time did she wish that her grandfather and his entire team were available to search the runes.

A forgotten people, inside a forgotten tomb, the grave goods alone would tell a researcher what type of people lived in the city. She knew they cared for their dead; that was obvious. The family shrine also hinted at other interesting aspects of the lost society. Perhaps Isabelle would divulge some of the secrets inside her head. She kept claiming ignorance, but she could simply be not telling everything.

With a crack, whatever mortar holding the lid firmly in place cracked, and the three men easily moved it off to the side. “Step back please, let the professional through first.”

“You mean the thief.” Isabelle grinned.

“I resemble that remark. Still as you know I prefer expert treasure hunter instead.” Slipping her daggers into her hand, she approached there remains inside the coffin. If possible she would keep from disturbing the corpse. True, some of the most beautiful objects were often found wrapped up with the dead, but this needed to be quick. “Nice.”

The body, obviously female, was wrapped in a long linen gown. Some unknown magics kept it from totally decomposing, perhaps it was the sarcophagus. With one hand she reached inside and pulled out a small golden disk. “What’s this?”

“Holy symbol.” Isabelle said while walking forward. “We should leave that.”

“Why?” Owein said disgustedly. “It’s not like she is going to be using it. Take the death mask as well, anything on her hands.”

“No, doesn’t appear to be.” The golden death mask along with the other items was quickly placed in a sack.

“Too bad we don’t have time to search the body proper; though I guess we could just pull it out.”

“No.”

The Captain of Dragoons turned around. “No? What do you think….”

“You will respect the person who lies in that coffin, Owein. Taking the items she possesses is as far I will allow.”

Owein shook his head. “What in the hell is wrong with you? Around the gaming table, you would have already stripped it clean.”

Eric moved from the side. “Come on Owein, let her be. There are two more of these things we can search.”

It took very little time for the room to be looted, still under the watchful eye of the Priestess of Sylia. “I don’t approve of this, Owein, not in the least.”

“Then stay at home next time Elisa, I’m sure we could find a healer who was less inclined to complain.” With that he walked away.

“He didn’t mean that.” Sayer looked at his brother with concern. ”We do need the treasure, right?”

Dacie sighed. “Unfortunately, he is correct. Come on; let’s go before he gets into trouble.”
Passing a few more vestibules, the party came to a dead end. “I’m sorry if I seem greedy.” Owein began to explain. “I just want to make sure that when we get back to the city we are able to find someone to help us. The only way that is going to happen is if we have coin in out hand.”

“There must be other ways, Owein.” Elisa said.

“If there are, you tell me, I would be happy to listen.” The Officer of Dragoons pointed down the hallway. “However, you’re right, let this be the last room. We have been down here long enough. What we have found so far is a good start don’t you think? If we find something similar in the next chamber, then we will be ahead.”

“Last room?”

Owein nodded. “Last room.”

“Alright then, let’s get the party started.”

“You’re going to get us into trouble if you keep doing that.” Dacie ran forward. ”You’re going to walk right into a trap.”

“Did you feel something?” Elisa turned to the Baroness.

“Owein.”

Once again without waiting on the others the Huscarl walked down the hallway and slammed the butt of his ax into the wall. The wall simply vanished. Eric’s scream cut off Isabelle’s objections. A long shadowy claw stepped into the hallway to rake the Housecarl along the arm. Beyond the shadowy creature were the remains of a desecrated room with dozens of nightmarish shadows darting back and forth beyond the light.

“By the goddess, someone had sealed it.” The Priestess screamed as she moved forward to lay her hands on Eric.

From Sayers hand a burst of light exploded on the shadows chest before it could further advance into the hallway. It was soon followed by the bark of Owein’s pistols, the arcane bolts slamming into the chest of another shadow that appeared out of the room.

Isabelle, without a second thought, cast a minor enchantment on her blade. Unfortunately she was the only one with such ability and it was the least powerful of such spells, mostly used against simple spirits, not these types of shadows. “Retreat.”

Isabelle took a step forward, blocking an overhand strike by slashing downward with her sword. The shadowy creature retreated slightly as the minor enchantment on her blade disrupted its hold on this plane. Although she wasn’t really hurting the creatures, it was at least for the time being keeping them at bay. The others weren’t doing as well, with Ilithar, the goddess of death’s aura dominating the crypt; Elisa couldn’t directly touch her own source of power. The small light she had created before entering the ruins wasn’t going to last much longer; when it vanished they were all going to be in serious trouble.

The buzz and loud pop of Owein’s arcane pistol went off again, its magical energy punching a hole through several of Ilithar’s minions. The shadows however kept pushing forward. Sayer let loose with another ray of light, burning another shadow, but they were too strong, resisting most of the damage. Isabelle could tell by the Incantist’s pale face that he too was reaching his limit.

The silver haired Baroness shifted her feet backwards, trying to keep the shadows from breaking through. The rest of the party could only watch in frustration. Neither Dacie nor Eric had the ability to harm these creatures. If Isabelle hadn’t been a Pathfinder, being able to enchant her blade, then there would have been very little chance the party would have even reached the stairs to make their way out of the crypt.

Passing through a larger room, Owein wailed while willing his pistol to charge faster.

Isabelle ducked another razor sharp claw, forcing the creature back with a thrust towards its midsection; she had been clipped a couple of times, the claws cutting through her armor like it was butter. Their touch was slowly sapping her strength. Incredibly, the Captain of Dragoons hadn’t retreated with her. Reaching forward, the silver haired Baroness grabbed the back of his shirt with her right hand. “What in the hell are you doing?” She could see that the creatures were already spreading out; if the party didn’t move quickly they were going to be overwhelmed.

“It’s all Phillip’s fault.”

“Phillip?”

“He shouldn’t have written such a difficult dungeon for our level.”

“What?” Isabelle looked Owein; her longtime friend had a wild look in eyes, a look of complete and utter despair. Suddenly the Captain of Dragoons screamed as a shadowy claw punched through his cuirass.

“Brett!”

It was then when Ilithar children began to come through the walls.

Something inside the Baroness could take it no longer. Quickly, she began to call out commands. No one was going to die in this place. “Eric, grab Owein.” With a backhanded slash, the Baroness protected her stricken friend while Eric pulled him back out of the room. With another hand, she reached for the arcane pistol, firing it point blank range into the face of the nearest shadow. A second bolt followed, and for the first time one of the creatures vaporized from the arcane onslaught.

“Still too many, Dacie stand by Elisa, you cannot allow anything to get through you. If she falls we are done for. Sayer, return to the front and lead us out of this mess, you can do it right. Eric, just keep a hand on Owein, your weapons are no use here. I will hold the rear and everyone get closer together. Sylvia’s blessing still offers us some protection.”

The Incantist was on the verge of breaking but the cool commands from the Baroness filled him with purpose. With one last flash of fire, the young man cut a way through the advancing shadows. The others too felt as if there was a chance they would all survive the encounter.

The fight out of the crypt was a nightmare to everyone, Isabelle appeared to be at all places at once. After charging the pistols again, she passed them to Dacie who was able to keep the shadows from overrunning the priestess. When Sayer slipped, Isabelle was there to pick him up, while slashing several of the shadows. Two more of the creatures fell to the party’s fighting, but there didn’t appear to be an end in sight.

As soon as the group reached the top of the stairs, everything changed. Elisa, now able to touch her goddess raised her hands in prayer sending a beam of brilliant light down the stairs, scattering their pursuers. A second prayer later, Sylvia’s blessing was strengthened, its light now covering the party further as the group descended down another flight of stairs heading towards the safety of the road.

“We can’t stay here.” Isabelle told the exhausted party. No one complained.

Further down the road, with the crypt lost in the incoming darkness Owein called out. “Stop.”

Letting the Officer of the Dragoons gently to the ground, Eric looked towards Elisa who quickly reached the wounded man’s side. “Stay still, let me heal you.”

“You can’t.” Owein smiled sadly. “There is nothing you can do, their touch…maybe in another level or two.” He chuckled, and then began to cough spitting up blood.

“Brett.” Sayer cried in anguish as he grabbed his brother’s hand. “Don’t, don’t go. We are close to getting home. Please….”

“Sorry, little brother. Listen to Christian, she was right…damn her she was always right.” Brett arched his back, blood pouring out of the wounds as he began to thrash around. Suddenly the Captain of Dragoons stopped, something passing across the young man’s eyes. “I want to go home.” Tears rolled down his face, as the breath of life faded. “Mom…Oh it hurts….mom.”

Without another word, the young man named Brett left the world, far from home.

Authors Notes: A special thanks to djkauf for a little elvish editing. If you like the story please leave a Kudos, if you have the time I would love to hear from you. Thanks to all for reading! - Elsbeth