Bodak
In the aftermath of the bodak's attack, myself, Kirara, and Zero were all much weakened. For that reason we ascended the steps to wait just inside the entrance to the crypt while the others investigated the six burial vaults. Zosta and Runa opened the doors one by one, finding all the vaults unoccupied by any remains, though Jiro averred that all had been occupied at one time but the vaults had not been opened recently. There was nothing else within the empty vaults. We wondered what had become of the remains. We know that nabasu like to make ghouls of those they have slain, but the remnants of those already long deceased would be of no interest to them for that purpose.
Beyond the vaults lay a door to the right that did not open on another vault. This revealed a wall of unfinished stone and a staircase leading down to a set of double doors. To prepare us to face that chamber, I cast a communication spell upon all of us. Jiro then opened the doors, holding his eyes tightly closed to defend himself from the nabasu's gaze and employing his magic to grant himself echolocation.
Zero and I had not yet entered the short passage to the stairs at this point. Just as Jiro was sensing the room beyond the double doors, I sensed something behind me and then claws sank into my back. I cried out in pain, but my cry made no sound. I could not see that Jiro sensed my injury through his link to our lives, but he shut the doors and ran back up the steps, having realized that not only was something behind us but that the chamber beyond the doors was affecting by an enchantment that blocked all sound.
I moved away from the creature that had attacked me, realizing as I took refuge in a corner that it was the nabasu. It had teleported behind me. Zosta burst out of the stair passage and flung her arms about the demon but it slipped free of her grasp. Runa surged forward and used her divinely granted power, sending a burst of energy out that permitted everyone a sudden brief alacrity. A malevolent aura spread out from the nabasu, but only poor dear Kirara was unable to resist its effect. I had run into the passage where the stairs lay and hidden behind a section of wall out of sight of the demon but the wall did not protect us.
I could not see this, but the nabasu struck Runa a fierce blow with the axe it bore and then both clawed and bit her. Jiro ran out to cast a healing spell upon her. Zero stood in the doorway to the burial vaults, performing to inspire us. I stepped behind him and found that I could hear in that area, which encouraged me to cast a spell that would make everyone but the demon swifter. Runa struck the demon one hard blow and it took a step back, using its native ability to paralyze Zero and then engulfing the chamber in impenetrable darkness. A moment later Jiro's lantern flared to life, dispelling the darkness. The silencing effect had also been dissipated somehow. Jiro freed Zero of his immobility.
Zero and I had not yet entered the short passage to the stairs at this point. Just as Jiro was sensing the room beyond the double doors, I sensed something behind me and then claws sank into my back. I cried out in pain, but my cry made no sound. I could not see that Jiro sensed my injury through his link to our lives, but he shut the doors and ran back up the steps, having realized that not only was something behind us but that the chamber beyond the doors was affecting by an enchantment that blocked all sound.
Nabasu
I moved away from the creature that had attacked me, realizing as I took refuge in a corner that it was the nabasu. It had teleported behind me. Zosta burst out of the stair passage and flung her arms about the demon but it slipped free of her grasp. Runa surged forward and used her divinely granted power, sending a burst of energy out that permitted everyone a sudden brief alacrity. A malevolent aura spread out from the nabasu, but only poor dear Kirara was unable to resist its effect. I had run into the passage where the stairs lay and hidden behind a section of wall out of sight of the demon but the wall did not protect us.
I could not see this, but the nabasu struck Runa a fierce blow with the axe it bore and then both clawed and bit her. Jiro ran out to cast a healing spell upon her. Zero stood in the doorway to the burial vaults, performing to inspire us. I stepped behind him and found that I could hear in that area, which encouraged me to cast a spell that would make everyone but the demon swifter. Runa struck the demon one hard blow and it took a step back, using its native ability to paralyze Zero and then engulfing the chamber in impenetrable darkness. A moment later Jiro's lantern flared to life, dispelling the darkness. The silencing effect had also been dissipated somehow. Jiro freed Zero of his immobility.
Zosta had been punching the nabasu with her fiery fists while Runa sliced it with her baneful blade, and now Zosta landed a blow that dropped the nabasu to the floor. It let out one rattling final exhalation and died. While the rest of us recovered, Zosta accompanied Jiro downstairs to find another crypt, this one holding three free-standing mausoleums with portraits of their occupants carved upon their lids. These were empty like the vaults upstairs, though similarly they had once been occupied and had not been opened for some while. When they had assured themselves that there was nothing else to be discovered in the crypt, they returned to the upper chamber.
The nabasu had carried little, as is the custom of most demons we have encountered thus far. His axe was enchanted with magic that would cause wounds inflicted by it to be more harmful to the victim. I determined this when Jiro was unable to, though touching the weapon caused me pain.
After we had done with the crypt, Runa removed the nabasu's head and took it outside to show to Aegronius' ancestor Sir Alrys, for his curse prevented him from entering the crypt. Sir Alrys was grateful to see the desecrator of his crypt had been destroyed, but his fallen state remained and he was impatient to have the crypt consecrated so that he could be free of the curse. Runa had to allay his demands that she consecrate the crypt immediately, for she did not have access to such magic at that moment.
Sir Alrys
On the following morning Runa dressed herself in her priestly vestments and performed the consecration. When it was done Sir Alrys sighed in relief. As his spirit faded away, a brilliant light shot across the abandoned town. Jiro and Zosta both observed a flare of greenish light where it presumably landed. I accompanied them to seek that spot while Zero remained to assist Runa in donning her armor. When we found the spot where the green flare had occurred, a glow hovered just above a spot on the ground. Jiro produced a spade and in a short time a chest had been exposed, buried a few feet beneath the surface.
When the chest was removed from its burial, it proved to be unlocked. Within it we found seven arrows, a horn, a small pouch, a rod, a scroll, and an axe with an unusually short haft. Runa withdrew the axe and the haft expanded to a length that would permit it to be wielded with two hands. It also proved to be forged of cold iron and blessed with divine magic.
When the chest was removed from its burial, it proved to be unlocked. Within it we found seven arrows, a horn, a small pouch, a rod, a scroll, and an axe with an unusually short haft. Runa withdrew the axe and the haft expanded to a length that would permit it to be wielded with two hands. It also proved to be forged of cold iron and blessed with divine magic.
The pouch contained incense that would aid a priest or person with access to divine magic. All seven of the arrows were also blessed, the horn would create a blast of holy magic when sounded, and the spell inscribed on the scroll was capable of resurrecting a deceased person. The rod was the least of these, being a crook-shaped quarterstaff that could also be transformed into a constricting serpent under the command of the rod's wielder. We took these things with gratitude, for all of them but the rod will aid us in our struggles against the demon invaders. And even the rod may have its uses. I have not forgotten your teaching, respected master.
Once we had acquired our reward from Sir Alrys, we decided to explore to the south between the lake and Drezen. Before we departed Jiro sent a message to Horgus Gwerm to request an additional supply of diamond dust, as he had been obliged to use all of what Zosta carried in order to restore some of the damage the nabasu's aura had inflicted upon myself, Zero, and Kirara.
For two days we continued an uneventful journey through the barren land. On the third day we were making our way along the bottom of a ravine which was overlooked by walls three times my height. As we neared a bend in the ravine, several ghouls suddenly appeared approaching in our direction. I was fortunate enough to spot them quickly and was able to eliminate them all with a ball of flame.
Ghoul
Just as I performed the gestures and incantation, Zero made a prodigious leap up to the top of the ravine wall. As the burning ghouls collapsed on the floor of the ravine we heard a screech. I felt myself held, unable to turn my head to seek the source of the scream. Despite my immobilized state I saw Zosta vault up to where Zero stood. Five fiery wings unfurled from Runa's back and she flew up the cliff as well. Jiro folded a paper crane and hurled it upward.
After a moment I recovered from the nabasu's paralyzing power but I could feel the same weakening effect that I had experienced in the crypt. The nabasu had taken flight, but Zosta leaped on it and pinned it so that it fell. It attempted to teleport away but failed. While Zosta continued to grapple it, Runa drove her blade through its foul body and it expired.
Once the nabasu was dead, we found that it had some crude maps in its possession, and the ghouls it had made wore the remnants of the garb of Baphomet cultists. We knew that a stronghold of the Ivory Labyrinth likely lay somewhere nearby, but the presence of these transformed cultists confirmed our suspicions. Now we must decide whether to first seek the Ivory Labyrinth or search for the missing priest.
Once the nabasu was dead, we found that it had some crude maps in its possession, and the ghouls it had made wore the remnants of the garb of Baphomet cultists. We knew that a stronghold of the Ivory Labyrinth likely lay somewhere nearby, but the presence of these transformed cultists confirmed our suspicions. Now we must decide whether to first seek the Ivory Labyrinth or search for the missing priest.
Symbol of Baphomet
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