In the Sandy Landing bar Moriliel has returned to the stage to play her cittern. Habistaw and Fedor are with us. Habistaw is enjoying the music without much to say at the moment.
Rhun approaches Habistaw and asks about the mausoleum he wants us to enter. “Habistaw, under what rites was the deceased buried?” “She’s dead. She doesn’t care.” There isn’t much more to glean, but we do learn from Habistaw that she was a halfling. We realize this must be the Blueheart family – the sorceress Sherine who’s house we helped cleanse for her nephew – the lawyer Lanadec.
Rem’e says, “Do you mean Sherine Blueheart’s tomb?” Habistaw is clapping away happily to the music, and he nods, “oh yes, that one.”
Rem’e knows there is only one graveyard in Amber. We believe Sherine died within the past ten years. He asks Rhun if there’s anything we should know about entering a crypt and possible undead, to which Rhun says “I’m always willing to bring down the light of Serenrae on the undead.”
“Rhun’s in,” says Ariza. “There’s definitely danger to be concerned with,” says Liadan.
Moriliel continues her set – she sounds like she’s singing harmony, though she’s up there by herself. She’s virtuosic, voluptuous, and just really good. The entire bar is packed.
Rhun and Rem’e ask Fedor about Tuxel Wu – about why he was hired to guard Habistaw. He doesn’t know. He was home with his family, when he was called to duty.
Moriliel finishes her set and starts packing up to go. Rhun approaches and inquires about her; she’s unimpressed. She joins us at our table. Habistaw makes introductions – then prattles on about the mausoleum. There is a treasure inside of more than just gold. “With Moriliel’s key and Liadan’s looks there’s nothing we can’t get into!”
The key is a spectacular piece of jewelry. It’s large, and beautiful. Moriliel says, “I’ve wanted to use this key, but half-pint here says I need your help.”
Ariza inquires further, and Moriliel suggests we meet at breakfast (1pm) at the estate of her benefactor, Paso Lao.
At 2:30am we return to the inn. In the morning, we prepare and make our way over to Paso Lao’s estate. It is a crisp morning. Servants attend to us quickly. There’s fruit laid out, pastries, and tea. Moriliel is already there. Paso stands and says, “Welcome; it is always a pleasure to see you.” Ruth is not present.
Paso rubs his hands and says, “Ah! To business. As you know, my friend Meriliel who has been staying here this past week and plying her trade at establishments in Amber has aquired an important key.” Servants bring out a sparkling drink of light bubbles. “See the bubbles? The universe is much like this glass. Each glass is a different plane, a different world filled with wonders, and they each touch each other. Our plane, the material, can touch the heavens – he slides the glass over towards Rhun’s until they touch – “or the abyss. But unknown to many, behold: the bubbles. Even amongst the planes, even as they touch one another, it creates bubbles. And each bubble rises to the top and disappears. It would seem one of these bubbles is near Amber, and who knows what treasures lie within. And we know that a sorceress who lived here, Sherine Blueheart studied this. And we may find clues to this bubble in her mausoleum. “
“Getting in will be no small feat. Habistaw has informed me that the wizard Liadan has the ability to see the unseen. Between you, you should be able to find it.”
“And what’s in it for us?” asks, Ariza.
“A 60/40 split and I take ownership of the bubble.”
“Can we keep the key?” asks Ariza – Passo looks at Meriliel who says, “I don’t care” (fine with me).
Liadan asks to look over Sherine’s book. It is very dense, but it involves the nature of planes. Rhun is unfamiliar with the concept of bubbles, but knows that time on other planes and dimensions can be very different. Ariza reflects on how Sherine died, but how she died is unknown.
Paso says, “In three nights it will be the full moon. That would be a good night to begin.”
Three days pass, and we head to the cemetery, North of the Or. It sleepy and quiet out that way, towards but not near the middens. There are many tombstones spread out with an occasional mausoleum. Rem’e looks around to see if there’s anyone nearby. It’s sleepy and quiet, not a lot around.
Meriliel is with us. She’s dressed in leather armor and short sword strapped across her back.
The chapel-sized Blueheart mausoleum is one of the larger buildings in the cemetary. As we approach, Habistaw and Fedor approach. The seven of us gather at the front of the mausoleum. As far as Ariza and Rem’e can tell, no one has been going in and out of the building.
Meriliel steps forward, inserts the key into the intricate lock, and it opens. Ariza checks for traps, but all seems well. The doors are sturdy, the bricks are well cut and well laid. It’s a very nicely made. It’s cool inside without any odd odors.
Ariza steps into the cool interior where lies a fine, undisturbed layer of dust. In the front of her, a stairway descends downward. We give a quick search of the area. Four doors lead to small, locked rooms. None of the rooms have Sherine’s name on them. They date back as far as two-hundred years. Habistaw, Fedor, and Meriliel follow us in.
The staircase is beautiful – there are carvings of angels, demons, fey – arcane writings – it’s a master craftman’s work. Liadan investigates the writings and smells and feels the air. She senses no threats. The arcane writings appear to be more of an aesthetic choice that contain no inherent meaning. Rhun sees religious symbols, but no overarching theme. Ariza detects no traps.
We ask Habistaw what he foresees. “I see we’re going to explore this tomb!That’s why I’m here. I can’t wait to see what happens.”
At the bottom of the stairs, there are a pair of locked doors. Meriliel moves to the front to open the door. Liadan steps forward with glasses on to look through the door. Beyond the door is a crypt, with a number of sarcophagi in the room. There’s a beautiful mural on the south wall depicting the idyllic life of halflings on the frontier. There’s a depiction of a barn raising, and Liadan with her glasses on, sees a secret door on the barn.
Ariza steps in looking for traps and finds none, but does notice that the secret door requires the same kind of key as has been used before. Rem’e examines the sarcophogi – these may be the adventurers – they are well carved, and ornate. Rhun finds no magic. Rhun has a consecration spell prepared at the ready.
As we step towards the door, an angry ghostly creature rises from the center sarcophagus – Liadan sees immediately that is a wraith, and Rhun consecrates the room.
BATTLE:
Ariza strikes at it, and her attack passes right through it. Rem’e steps back into the hallway and loads a different weapon. Merililel steps into the room and starts playing her cittern, and everyone is filled with confidence. Both Habistaw and Fedor enter the room but don’t attack.
The wraith attacks Ariza and a cold shock runs through her. Liadan avoids an attack of opportunity, and casts magic missiles directly into the wraith and it impacts it as if it were solid. Rhun fills the room with the holy power of Serenrae and the creature suffers.
Ariza steps back and throws alchemist’s fire on the creature to no avail. Rem’e looks at his fire-based weapon, says “aw man…”, and steps back. “After you, m’lady.”
Meriliel throws a strange frost that skids across the floor. The wraith attacks Ariza, and misses her. Liadan casts more magic missiles, causing real damage on it. Rhun casts more positive energy on it, but it doesn’t seem to be as badly damaged.
Ariza strikes out with her short sword and gives it the finishing blow, and it fades away.
Habistaw bursts into the room covered with a mage armor and is just jacked with muscles, ready to go – just a little late to the party. Meriliel ceases her spell, and Ariza hands her her short sword back.
We open the secret door. Ariza checks the passage before us and detects no traps. We find a crossroads – carvings on every surface of the room, even the ceiling and floor. Liadan sees arcane symbols that she’s noticed on the boxes before. The glyphs are everywhere.
We examine the room for some time. Ariza threw a torch through the far door – without effect. We think there must be an order to stepping on the tiles, and we investigate the door. We ask Habistaw what he thinks …”I bet you have to step on them in order to get safely across!”
After studying the room for a long while, Ariza risks it, and hits the lower right, middle right, and center top – and steps through the door. She comes back without trouble. She heads back and then she and Rem’e follow the same pattern across.
They step into a large chamber with single doors to the East, West, and South. There are statues of oversized halflings in each of the corners looking glorious – likely Bluehearts – and more carvings and murals on the walls. Ariza lights the pathway taken with dancing lights for the rest of the party to follow. Rem’e calls back to tell us what they see.
Rhun follows the path forward, heavy in his armor, without trouble. All follow into the larger room. Rem’e pokes one of the statues in the corner, and it pokes him back!! All four stone statues attack!
BATTLE
Rhun casts a magical scimitar and hits with a *tink!* and steps back. Ariza strikes but misses. Liadan casts a force missile into the nearest. Rem’e takes a five foot step back and shoots into the one near him – stone chips fly off it.
One of the statues takes a swing at Ariza – knocking her back a bit. One strikes at Rem’e who dodges out of the way. One hits Liadan with a powerful blow. The next attacks Rhun but his armor saves him.
Meriliel begins strumming again and our confidence in battle increases! Several magic missiles surge out of Habistaw and strike one of the far statues. Fedor is looking on but can’t get through. Rhun’s magical weapon strikes a strong blow to the statue it is attacking, but Rhun’s mace does not land. Ariza does not land a blow either. Liadan pulls out more magic missiles – the creature swings but cannot touch her. The missiles hit soundly. Rem’e fires into the nearest statue who swings and misses him. The shot lands true and blasts a big chunk out of the creature. He rapid reloads.
One of the statues crashes into Rem’e; one misses Ariza; Rhun is hit; Liadan is also hit.
Fedor rushes into the room and swings with his great sword and hits the statue that’s been hit with Rem’e’s gun. Meriliel continues to play. Rhun does no good with either mace or spiritual scimitar. Liadan strikes with sword and hits! She also casts another force missile and hits, though the creature lands a blow as well. Rem’e accepts an attack of opportunity, but shoots again at close range – there is a click and nothing happens. There is an expletive, and he rapid reloads.
The statues attack but the heroes stay out of reach. Fedor strikes the same statue, removing an arm – but the thing is still standing. Meriliel attacks the same – but doesn’t seem to do any damage. Rhun has no success. Ariza smashes the one near her and then dances away to the far side of the room to flank the one across from Rhun.
Liadan is mad. She blasts its head off with magic missiles, but it continues to swat away with its arms. Rem’e shoots the nearest one again. More pieces fly off, but it still stands! He rapid reloads.
The creature hits back – ouch. One attacks Fedor and hits. Liadan also takes a blow and looks bloodied.
Fedor manages to take down the nearest. Meriliel misses. Rhun’s scimitar makes a strong blow, but it doesn’t do much damage. He steps back and heals all (but two of the statues). Ariza attempts a stealth attack – but slips and her pants rip open revealing shocking pink undies with little orange flames on them. She looks wildly embarrassed. Liadan continues to face of against her foe and smacks it with her quarter staff, but it seems unfazed. Rem’e loads his musket with an adamantine bullet, and fires! Kaboom! A big chunk of the creature blows off.
The creatures all miss.
Fedor hits the nearest as does Meriliel, though her strike does little damage. Rhun spins, pulls out a scroll and casts Eagle’s splendor on Rem’e – but Rhun’s scimitar does no damage. Ariza lands a ton of damage on her foe. Liadan dodges a blow from her opponent and pours magic missiles into it, and it crumbles to dust! Rem’e blasts the one across the room, blowing it to pieces.
The remaining statue strikes Fedor, knocking him back with a massive blow. Fedor swings back, but the creature remains standing. Rhun’s scimitar simply does no damage, and Ariza misses as well. Liadan casts a force missile. With the current pack around the statue, Rem’e can’t shoot – he calls, “get out of the way!” But Fedor, swings a crushing blow. And the creature falls.
