"The Tomb of the Nine Gods" - Tomb of Annihilation, Chapter 30

The party was stuck on an island surrounded by a lake of lava. Large crystal gargoyles orbited the skies overhead, preventing Bramble from transforming into a flying leather-winged reptile to carry the others to safety. Thus the party found themselves clambering down the north side of the island. Large fragments of what was once a land-bridge connecting the island to the rest of the lost city of Omu lay tumbled in the molten lava. The party was able to jump from one fragment to another. However, they soon reached a sixty foot gap, too far to jump.

"Are you sure this is the only way?" asked Apparently. Her apprehension was clear.

Bramble assured her, "Don't worry, you've got this." The bestial theran tied his rope around her waist. "Okay, can you levitate?"

Apparently closed her eyes and began floating in the air. In her home country of Akasa, her demijin heritage made her an outcast. Right now, her in-born ability was an asset.

Bramble stepped away and addressed Argent. "Okay, give her a push."

The humanoid dragon stepped forward and gave Apparently a good shove. She floated out over the lava. The other end of the rope was tied around his own waist. He quickly picked up the slack so that it didn't fall into the lava.

Apparently opened her eyes, she was slowly drifting a few feet over deadly lava. She quickly closed her eyes again and held her breath.

CHAPTER 30, "THE TOMB OF THE NINE GODS"

THE EXPEDITION

• Bramble Wolf - a theran barbarian wise-man (Wildhunt Shifter Druid) searching for the legendary origin of his tribe.
• Apparently Jones - a blue-skinned demijin caravan guide and animal trainer (Air Genasi Ranger) from Akasa, the land of sky mountains. Having failed to find work in Port Nyanzaru as an animal handler, she has joined the expedition to the interior as a scout.
• Chak'sa - Apparently's honker (parasaurolophus) companion.
• Xoc-Wik - a b'alam warrior (Tabaxi Fighter) from the jungles of Bres, searching for those responsible for the destruction of his tribe.
• Zeynap Shiravadakar - a Eusebean smuggler (Human Warlock) bearing the spirit of a celestial unicorn.
• Argent Truth-Sayer - a golden azi knight errant of Bhamut (Dragonborn Paladin) in the service of Bhamut, sent on a holy mission to join the expedition to destroy the Soul Monger. 

NPCs

• Orvex Ocrammas - translator and guide for hire; rescued from the Fane of the Night Serpent.
• Five Mercenaries - two archers and three spearmen, formerly employed by agents of Unglaub the Lich Queen, who switched sides when the agents were defeated.

Crossing the Lake of Lava

Apparently could barely hear her companions through the heat and noise of the lava, "Okay! You're good!"

She opened her eyes again and touched down on a massive boulder. She turned around and braced herself. Argent and the mercenaries pulled the rope tight on their end. 

Bramble said, "Here goes!" and climbed hand-over-hand across the rope. Apparently strained against the weight but kept the rope tight. 

Once he was across, Bramble helped Apparently hold the rope on her end. Each member of the party then climbed across the rope one at a time in turn. Orvex, then the mercenaries, and Xoc-Wik. Finally only Zeynap and Argent remained. 

"Okay, my turn!" said the celestial warlock. 

Zeynap grabbed Argent in an awkward hug. There was a peal of thunder as a bolt of lightning struck them both, creating an explosion of rock and debris. Instantaneously, another bolt of lightning struck the far side. Instead of an explosion, there was only a puff of smoke. The smoke cleared to reveal Argent, still in Zeynap's awkard embrace. They had magically teleported across the span. 

Once on the other side, the party scaled the sheer bank and were back in the city.

DM Note- Here's how this whole sequence went.

Step 1- Everyone had to make a DC 10 Athletics Check to climb down. 1d6 damage on a failed climb. 

Step 2- Push hovering Apparently across the span, no roll. 

Step 3- Both ends of the rope had to make a Athletics Check vs. DC equal to the Constitution of the person climbing across. A failure meant lava damage! Apparently made one roll. Argent had help from the mercenaries so he had Advantage.

Step 4- Repeat for each NPC. Bramble was able to help Apparently so she got Advantage. 

Step 5- Eventually only Zeynap and Argent remained, but Zeynap's player had a plan. Zeynap grabbed Argent and cast Thunder Step. 

Question- How did Chak'sa get across? Umm, he found a secret tunnel somewhere. Whatever! Shut up! 

Locating the Tomb

"Okay, now what?" asked Zeynap. 

Apparently said, "I think I know how we can find the Tomb."

"What have you got?" inquired Bramble.

"I am trained to locate and destroy creatures animated by necrotic energy. I can sense their presence. If there's a lot of necrotic energy in one place, I can sense it." explained Apparently.

"Do it!" replied Bramble.

Apparently closed her eyes and concentrated. She reached out with her senses. She could smell death, lingering death, a corpse animated by necrotic force. It was nearby, very close. It was a group of corpses animated by the spores of a plant. 

She reached further. She could sense small pockets of animated corpses and ghouls wandering the city. 

There. A great stench of death and decay. A powerful force emanated from the northern part of the city. It had to be there.

She told the others, informing them also of the nearby threat. 

"That has to be the place." said Bramble. 

"It's not in the royal palace?" asked Zeynap, "I really believed it was going to be in the royal palace!"

"Me too," said Bramble. They looked at Xoc-Wik. The jaguar-man had the blank vacant stare of brain fever. He would remember nothing of this day or this conversation. Bramble sighed, "Its exactly where Xoc-Wik thought it would be." He looked back at Zeynap, "Whatever you do, don't tell him he was right. We'll never hear the end of it."

A Vision of the Past

The party followed the western cliff face around the outside of the city, avoiding encounters wherever possible. At the base of the waterfall they found a strange obelisk made of black glass. When the party neared the obelisk they each received a strange vision.

They could see the city of Omu in ancient times, a bustling metropolis of trade, art, and craft, where man peacefully coexisted with humanoid oxen. At that time the city was not sunken but was was a part of the surrounding environment. Suddenly, a black globe appeared in the sky over the south-west quadrant of the city. The globe expanded in a flash, engulfing the southern quarter. A shockwave burst out, destroying the city. The entire area collapsed and the city descended two hundred feet. Buildings toppled. Thousands died. The vision came to an end.

Showdown with Sekelok

The party made their way back to the amphitheater. It was mid-afternoon and they were in no shape to take on any tombs. They went about fortifying the amphitheater into a new base camp. They hoped the lingering fear of the King of Feathers would keep most opponents away. 

Bramble set off alone to forage for food and water while Apparently explored the passages and chambers beneath the amphitheater seats in search of the scythe-claw eggs. 

Argent prayed for forgiveness while Zeynap oversaw the work of the mercenaries. It was lightly raining.

Argent's reverie was interrupted by a booming shout that echoed throughout the city, "I HAVE COME FOR YOU, COWARD!"

It was the serpentine warrior, Sekelok. He stood in the center of the muddy boneyard that faced the amphitheater. He carried a thrusting spear and shield made from a large tortoise shell. It was, in fact, the shell of Hasegawa Tōhaku, former member of the expedition.

Sekelok was accompanied by two humanoid nagini. Two other nagini warriors wielding long bows stood a few dozen feet behind at the edge of the tall grass. They were spaced far apart. 

Argent stepped forward. "What do you want?"

"I've come for you, coward. You have to finish what you started!" His voice boomed like that of a titan.

"Your priest changed the terms of our duel, invalidating it. I have no wish to become one of you."

"Then let me offer you new terms. We are in need of slaves to continue digging for the black opal crown. You stole ours! We lost several good warriors to your couatl companion when we tried to retake them. She is a formidable opponent! So I challenge you! If I win, I take your slaves." He indicated the mercenaries. The mercenaries shuffled their feet at the offer. "If you win, we will leave this city."

Zeynap shouted, "What do you need slaves for? Why don't you dig for the black opal crown yourselves?"

The two humanoid nagini looked at each other in shock, offended a the mere suggestion they perform manual labor. One of them shouted back, "We didn't undergo the ritual to become one of the ancient noble ones so we could dig in the earth like a worm!" A stern glance of rebuke from Sekelok silenced his entourage. 

Argent looked back at the mercenaries. They were ready to fight. He turned towards Sekelok, "I'm not going to do that," was his reply.

"Then we'll just have to kill you all and enslave the survivors!"

"I'd like to see you try!"

Sekelok hissed and charged, slithering through the mud and rain towards Argent. His two humanoid companions split left and right, creating wide flanks. The archers in the rear released their arrows at Argent and Zeynap.

Chak'sa blew out three long loud blats. They could be heard across the city. Apparently heard it under the amphitheater. Bramble heard it hundreds of feet away.

Argent ordered the mercenaries to form a line behind him. Zeynap was at his side. 

Zeynap directed his witch-bolts at the archer to the left while Chak'sa charged the archer to the right. Sekelok closed with Argent. The dragon-man planted his feet and held his shield high as he received the onslaught of spear thrusts from the towering Sekelok. 

The mercenary archers directed their attacks at the archers to the rear while the mercenary spearmen protected them from the humanoid nagini charging from the flanks.

Bramble transformed himself into the form of a saber-toothed cat and ran quickly through the city. Apparently made her way out of the passages as quickly as she could.

Chak'sa engaged the archer to the right. The two humanoid nagini fought with the mercenaries to either flank.

A nagina warrior appeared as if from nowhere. Zeynap shouted in surprise, "Where'd HE come from?"

Argent, grunting against the attacks made upon his shield, replied, "He was probably a snake. You didn't even notice him."

Apparently suddenly appeared from the underground passages beneath the amphitheater and engaged with the nagina warrior.

Zeynap called upon the magical power of his patron, Bright Mane the celestial unicorn, and summoned forth a rainbow hued stream of lightning directed at Sekelok.

Almost simultaneously, Bramble appeared at the edge of the muddy battlefield. He transformed back into human form and held his staff aloft. A small stormcloud coalesced out of the light rain and a bolt of lightning struck Sekelok.

Sekelok became enraged and turned his attention from Argent to Zeynap. Sekelok's focused attack almost sent the celestial warlock to the ground but, with some magical healing from Apparently, Zeynap stood fast and maintained his arcing multicolored lightning bolt. Sekelok could take no more. His body began to convulse from the massive electricity coursing through him and he fell to the ground, shuddering, dead.

Chak'sa fought bravely but was no match for the poisoned weapons of the nagina. The saurian honker soon fell dead. The nagina fiend was soon dispatched, however, by Zeynap's colorful eldritch blasts.

The remaining nagini fanatics fought on despite the death of their master. They pressed the attack against Zeynap. Zeynap, still weakened by Sekelok's attack, fell to the ground. Argent shifted his position to aid his companion while Apparently called forth her healing spirit - an ethereal feathered reptile-bird. The reptile-bird moved restored Zeynap's vitality and the warlock was soon back in the battle - only to quickly fall again to nagini arrows!

The nagini then turned their attacks at Apparently, forcing her to direct her attention to her defense and causing her healing spirit to vanish! Argent stepped in to aid Zeynap with his own holy healing prayers.

The remaining nagini were finally defeated after a grueling protracted battle. The party was finally able to rest and pray and recover. Apparently walked up to Chak'sa's lifeless body and began the ritual to bring it back to life.

DM Note - That fight was UH-MAZING! 

Bramble was six rounds out so he changed form to make it five rounds. Apparently was only three rounds out. 

Zeynap and Argent showed a spectacular level of tactics. The players were challenged and had a great time. The outcome of the fight was by no means foregone. Zeynap had 3 hit points left when Sekelok went down. Had I not missed as much as I did - in one round I rolled 1, 1, and 20 - and had Bramble not showed up on the round he did, it would have gone very badly for the group! 

I did forget that thugs had two attacks per round. I informed the players after the fight and apologized. Had I known that, I would have added more bad guys!

So, milestone reached, Level up! 8th level!

The Tomb of the Nine Gods

It was the morning after the fifty-seventh night since leaving Port Nyanzaru. The party had rested in the chambers beneath the old amphitheater and eaten small game foraged Bramble along with some hard tack. Argent continued to pray. The others patiently waited by the paladin sought forgiveness for his transgressions. Not until noon were they ready to search for the entrance to the tomb.

As they walked past some abandoned buildings, Bramble noticed that they were being watched. Small humanoid dragons, barely waist high to a grown man, were observing their movements through the city. Bramble covertly spread the word so that the others could be ready but the humanoid dragons did nothing but watch from afar.

The party explored the base of the north cliff face and eventually found a fifteen foot tall obelisk of black stone covered in weeds and vines. The stone was engraved with the following words.

Fear the night when the forsaken one seizes death’s mantle and the seas dry up and the dead rise and I, Acererak the Eternal, reap the world of the living. Those who dare enter take heed: 

The enemies oppose.
One stands between them.
In darkness, it hides.
Don the mask or be seen.
Speak no truth to the doomed child.
The keys turn on the inside only.

Ahead of them was a dark passage cut into the cliff's base. A smaller passage was cut into the base to the right. Zeynap held a glowing stick to illuminate the darkness and saw that the larger passage ended in a stone slab with eight square niches, each large enough to hold a puzzle cube.

"There's only eight. Something's not right."

Bramble said, "Look for the ninth. It's probably down that passage to the right."

The narrow passage to the right contained eight ceremonial statues standing in concave niches carved into the walls. Each statue represented one of the trickster gods.

• Moa the jaculi stood opposite Wongo the su-monster.
• I’jin the almiraj stood opposite Obo’laka the zorbo.
• Papazotl the eblis stood opposite Kubazan the froghemoth.
• Nangnang the grung stood opposite Shagambi the kamadan.
• There was an empty  niche at the end of the the hall.

"Who's missing?" asked Argent.

"Unkh the flail shnail," answered Orvex.

Bramble examined the empty niche at the read and noticed that it rotated on a pivot. The entire niche spun around to reveal a hidden statue of a flail snail. Around the statue's neck was a necklace and pendant in the shape of a human eye.

Bramble gave the necklace to Argent to examine. Argent put it on and studied it closely. He walked around and noticed that the pendant did not hang plumb. It seemed to be attracted to an area of dense undergrowth to the left of the obelisk. He cleared the undergrowth to find another large passage. The second passage appeared to have been home to animals seeking shelter. Additionally, humanoid footprints indicated others had passed through this entrance no sooner than several weeks ago.

The party joined Argent. Zeynap, carrying the puzzle cubes, saw a stone slab with nine cut niches.

"Hold on," said the warlock, "I have an idea."

Zeynap inserted the puzzle cubes in the niches with opposing trickster gods on opposite sides and Unkh the flail snail in the center.

The stone slab rose, revealing another short length of hallway ending in an iron wall. The wall was decorated with a bas relief skull with an open gaping mouth staring down menacingly at a mechanical lever. While they were watching, a small mechanical arm extended from the open mouth of the iron skull. The mechanical arm held a small hourglass. The arm rotated and sand began to fall.

DM Note- I started counting down from 10, asking "What do you do?" after each number.

Apparently rushed forth and examined the mechanical arm. She pulled the lever.

The floor split open and fell away, revealing a pit filled with acid and sharp spikes.

Apparently held on with the lever and dangled above the pit! She took a deep breath to calm down. She drew upon her demijin heritage and began  to hover in mid-air.

She pushed the lever back up. The floor closed. She pulled the lever. It opened. She pursed her lips and reset the trap again.

She waited while the sand poured out. When all the sand was in the lower bulb of the hourglass, the heavy iron door sank into the floor with the sound of turning gears and chains.

The Devil Face
Ahead of them was a hallway filled with moss and vines. Daylight and rainwater filtered down through long narrow artificial fissures in the ceiling. Tracks revealed others had passed this way several weeks previous. The end of the hallway terminated in two passages, left and right. At the center of the "T" was the carved image of a smiling horned devil face. The interior of the smiling mouth was an impenetrable dark blackness.

The iron door began to slowly rise.

"Quickly! Get everyone inside! Don't get separated!" shouted Argent.

Argent, Zeynap, Bramble, and Apparently  moved into the mossy hall to allow room for Chak'sa and the mercenaries to enter.

As they did so they absent-mindedly stepped on pressure plates that filled the corridor with a deadly hail of poison darts launched from small concealed holes in the walls. It was a massacre!

All five mercenaries and Chak'sa fell dead. Argent, Zeynap, Bramble, and Apparently were badly injured but managed to avoid the poison.

Orvex, crossing over the slowly rising door, called out, "Whoah! Whoah! Whoah! Shtop moving! Nobody move! There'sh no need to rush! Look! Shee? This door will take like an hour to closhe!"

Argent slapped his head with his scaled palm.

Orvex continued, "Okay, there'sh shomething you should know. I'm not jusht a transhlator. I do have certain.. shkills." He bent down and examined the floor, "Shee? Pressure plates. Let me jusht..."Orvex took out some small tools and hammered a small wedge under the floor. "There. Thish one'sh dishabled."

He crawled upon the floor on his hands and knees. He found and disabled three more pressure plates.

"There, that should take care of that. Now what's she doing?"

He pointed at Apparently, who was bent over examining the dark void inside the devil face's mouth.

She was muttering, "In darkness, it hides." She stuck her head into the mouth to look around.

She was suddenly pulled into the mouth, her legs kicking! She disappeared!

To Be Continued...(!)

DM Note- Seriously, that's exactly where I said "To be continued." I told them, no more questions, no more description, until next week. They were dying! 

Unfiortunately, both Apparently and Zeynap will be absent next week so we may have to cancel that session. 

"Killing Ras Nsi" - Tomb of Annihilation, Chapter 24

The party crawled out of the slave pits. The room above was empty save for a stack of neatly folded cultist robes and masks and a map of the subterranean complex. The party donned their robes while Bramble examined the map.  Orvex and Commander Frederick offered to come with them but Bramble ordered them to stay behind. He suggested they wait for the signal before they attempted an escape.

"What's the signal?" inquired Fredericks.

"The inevitable fighting and screaming," replied Bramble.

CHAPTER 24, "KILLING RAS NSI"

THE EXPEDITION

• Bramble Wolf - a theran barbarian wise-man (Wildhunt Shifter Druid) searching for the legendary origin of his tribe.
• Apparently Jones - a blue-skinned demijin caravan guide and animal trainer (Air Genasi Ranger) from Akasa, the land of sky mountains. Having failed to find work in Port Nyanzaru as an animal handler, she has joined the expedition to the interior as a scout.
• Chak'sa - Apparently's honker (parasaurolophus) companion.
• Xoc-Wik - a b'alam warrior (Tabaxi Fighter) from the jungles of Bres, searching for those responsible for the destruction of his tribe.
• Zeynap Shiravadakar - a Eusebean smuggler (Human Warlock) bearing the spirit of a celestial unicorn.
• Argent Truth-Sayer - a golden azi knight errant of Bahamut (Dragonborn Paladin) in the service of Bahamut, sent on a holy mission to join the expedition to destroy the Soul Monger. 

NPCs

• Eku - a mysterious shape-changing wise-woman from Chult, hired as a guide.
• Tony - rough and tumble dinosaur wrangler who wished to learn from Apparently, possibly from 19th century Boston on Earth. 

Ukurlahmu

The party, disguised as humanoid initiates of Jivantaka, made their way to the entrance. There entrance was now guarded by humanoid reinforcements. The new guards paid no attention as the party made their way to the left.

They found a similar situation in the war hall. A few bored humanoids were distracting themselves with unspeakable amusements in a corner.

They reached the door marked "Armory" on the map. It refused to open.

Apparently said, "Traapantaka" and the door opened

Within was a room filled with khopeshes, scimitars, shortbows, longbows, arrows, and shields. The floor was covered in large bones. A shield made out of a human-sized tortoise shell hung on the far wall. Their weapons and armor lay piled neatly on a nearby shelf.

Before they could retrieve their equipment, a serpentine figure emerged from the shadows. It was the skeletal body of a large snake. The skull was not that of a snake. It was instead more humanlike but with alien dimentions. The armory was guarded by the animated skeletal remains of a naga!

“They will tell us the passphrase! So Ukurlahmu has spoken!”

The party looked at each other, stunned, and replied, "Traapantaka"

"The initiates are not allowed to speak the holy language. The initiates will say the passphrase in their lowly gutter tongue."

"Uh, white feather black mask"

"Does Ukurlahmu look like door? Ukurlahmu does not require the phrase to open the door. The latter portion will suffice. What is it that the lowly initiates need?'

Bramble said that they came for the armor and weapons of the slaves.

"The initiate will tell Ukulahmu why they need the weapons and armor of the infidels."

Xoc-Wik interjected, "We lowly initiates do not understand the reasons. We are simply ordered and must obey."

"That is an acceptable answer. The initiates may depart with the equipment of the infidels."

Argent noticed the magnificent tortoise-shell shield on the wall. "We were also asked to retrieve that shield," he said longingly.

Ukurlahmu spun around and faced Argent menacingly, "That is the shield of Sekelok, the Holy Defender of the Commander of the Fane! It is not for a lowly initiate to touch!"

Argent backed away carefully, "Never mind!"

The party retrieved their belongings and left the armory.

While Bramble and Xoc-Wik gathered the equipment, plus a few quivers of arrows, Argent and Apparently stood in the long collonade inspecting the bas relief sculptures carved into the wall. The walls told the story of the giant serpent-god Jivantaka, coiled around the earth deep under the surface feeding on the nightmares of the world above. The carvings then depicted a Chultan hero wielding a flaming sword and bearing the symbol of the blue triangle. The hero showed the warrior undergoing an alchemical ritual to transform himself into a nagina. The hero later becomes leader of the nagini of Omu and, wearing a magnificent crown adorned with an opal, opens the gate that would free Jivantaka to lay waste to the world above.

The party, now reequipped, donned the loose robes over their weapons and armor and made their way to the great cathedral towards the door marked on the map as Ras Nsi's throneroom. 

The Throne Room

The party entered the "cathedral" where they saw Yahru, the serpentine spymaster, watching the portcullis that led to a room labeled "harem" on the map. Yahru shushed them and directed them towards the next door - a set of large bronze double doors.

"Quickly," he hissed, "Sekelok is distracted in the harem. The door to the throne room is unlocked! Beware the undying guardians!"

The party moved quickly but quietly. They opened the bronze doors and dashed down a fifty foot hallway that opened into the southwest corner of a large audience hall and throne-room supported by columns. A bronze throne sat atop a raised dais along the center of the north wall. The throne was set about five feet away from the wall itself. Large behemoth-skins covered the east wall like hung tapestries. There was a niche cut into the south wall. A silver disk engraved with intricate symbols was set into the floor of the niche.

The party moved into the room and spread out. Suddenly hunched figures with grey-green skin, clawed hands, and gruesome bestial faces emerged from behind the throne. The creatures reeked of decay and emerged one by one as if from a hidden door behind the throne. Six creatures ultimately emerged and spread out throughout the room with the intention of attacking the party.

Argent rushed forward and engaged the undying defenders of the throneroom. Apparently drew her swords and fought at his side. Bramble and Xoc-Wik remained in the hallway and attacked at range.

The ghoulish defenders proved no match for the party and were soon dispatched.

Zeynap, suffering from Brain Fever, tapped Bramble on the shoulder and said, "Be careful, I think there are ghouls nearby."

Bramble searched behind the throne and found a small access door that led to a chute that required one to be on hands and knees to navigate. It was from this chute that the undying defenders emerged. The team got down on all fours and entered the chute one by one.

Ras Nsi
Argent emerged from the chute into an opulent chamber covered in silk pillows and hung with tapestries. Jewels and gold lay strewn about the floor along with rare and expensive objects stolen from across Antara. There was another niche in the east wall set with a silver disk. The walls were adorned with five ancient shields.  Argent moved to the center of the room to allow the others to enter behind him. Bramble immediately summoned a spirit of flame to occupy the niche and the silver disk.

A large snake-human hybrid with the upper torso of a human whose lower torso had been replaced with the tail of a massive snake, lay coiled on a pile of pillows in the far side of the chamber. The serpentine man wore a silk robe with gold adornments. He held a large sword before him, point down on the floor with both his hands resting upon the pommel. The sword's blade was decorated with an iridescent pattern resembling flames.

The serpent-man's face was wrapped in heavy bandages. He appeared weak. His breath was labored. He reeked of illness and decay.

Argent concentrated on the figure before him. He could sense no necrotic energy. The being that rested before him was alive, though Argent could sense his life being drained away.

The individual could be no one other than Ras Nsi, immortal bara of Mezro.

“So, my assassins have returned! This time you have made it thus far without raising the alarm. I congratulate you. I have chosen to forego my usual escape in order to offer you a proposal! I can help you destroy the Soulmonger! Will you hear me out?”

Argent looked at the other members of the party. They were in agreement. Argent replied, "We will entertain your offer."

Ras Nsi continued, “I have been following your progress since Mr. Shiravadakar allowed Bright Mane to escape in Eusebea. My agent, Feldercarb, failed to discourage you all from embarking upon this expedition then and he later failed to assassinate you in Port Nyanzaru! Since then we have tracked your progress through the jungle. You dealt me a major setback when you killed Eth-To in the ancient mine! It was through the sending stones created by Eth-To that my agents were able to report your progress! The sending stones also served as payment for the pirates and smugglers who unwittingly acted on our behalf!

"But I have been played a fool! I have become the victim of my own misplaced trust! But it is not too late to undo my folly!

"You seek the Soulmonger. And here you, too, have been played a fool! For you will not find it here!

"Yes, my nagini servants went to great lengths to obtain the various components of the Soulmonger from the far corners of Antara but they did not assemble it and we do not possess it. You are not surprised? Yarhu must have told you this already. The one you seek is, in fact, the arch-lich known as Acererak!

"We had an arrangement, you see. In exchange for providing him with the various components for the Soulmonger, Acererak promised to help us," Ras Nsi paused to correct himself, "in our eternal fight against the naga." Ras Nsi took a deep breath, "He lied!"

"Instead, the very machine I helped him create is now robbing me of my immortal life! I am slowly withering! I am a pitiful shell of my former glory. So I seek to repay his treachery in kind. I want you to destroy the Soulmonger! I will not stop you. Indeed, I will assist you in any way I can!

"I will give you all the information I know about its location. I will tell you how to gain access to its protected vault. I will even provide you with one of the nine keys necessary to open the vault! In exchange, I ask that you spare my life!

"I offer a truce! Leave this place and do not come back. No nagina under my command shall cause harm to you or your allies so long as you cause no further harm to my nagini while you are in Omu.

"Once you have destroyed the Soulmonger, you will leave Omu and will never return.

"However, Should I die, you will never find the Soulmonger. I am prepared to direct you to the entrance of the tomb in which you can find the device as well as the location of the nine keys required to open the tomb! Without my help, you will never succeed in your quest!"

The party huddled and discussed the offer. Bramble and Argent were against it but decided to capitulate in order to obtain the information they needed.

Argent turned towards Ras Nsi and once more spoke on behalf of the party, "We accept your offer!"

Suddenly, two figures emerged from the secret passage. It was Artus Cimber and Dragonbat. Artus, his eyes wild with revenge, shouted, “No! Ras Nsi- you will die!”

The Revenge of Artus Cimber

Xoc-Wik grabbed Artus' outstretched arm and pulled him aside, appealing to him to stop. Artus ignored the b'alam archer and wrenched himself free while Artus' companion, the saurial named Dragonbait, sliced at Xoc-Wik's arms with his ridiculously long sword. Dragonbait leveled his sword at Xoc-Wik as a warning not to do that again. Xoc-Wik cursed in exasperation.

Ras Nsi sneered when he saw Artus, "Artus Cimber, my old enemy. I thought you would be dead by now. Well, that is no matter. That outcome can be arranged!" The snake-man held aloft his iridescent sword with two hands and it burst into flame!

Argent, who bristled at the idea of striking an accord with the evil snake-man, said, "That's all that I needed!" and charged towards Ras Nsi.

Bramble and Apparently stepped aside. They had no desire to intervene in this conflict and wished to remain neutral.

Zeynap, dazed, said, "Hey, it's Artus and Dragonbait!"

Dragonbait and Argent attacked Ras Nsi, cornering him on one side of the room. Apparently summoned two spirit bears to further  block Ras Nsi in.

The five shields mounted on the wall suddenly flew into the air. They surrounded Ras Nsi, forming a ring that blocked incoming attacks. Xoc-Wik and Apparently began shooting at the shields with their bows. Each time a shield was hit by an arrow, it fell to floor inert.

Artus used his ring to blast the area with magical cold and ice. In his mad fervor to kill Ras Nsi at all cost, he paid no regard to the safety of his allies.

Ras Nsi shouted, "You idiots! I was prepared to aid you! If you do not stop this fool, you will never learn the location of the the tomb! Your betrayal shall cost you dearly!"

The last of Ras Nsi's flying shields fell to the floor. In response, Ras Nsi disappeared into a magical puff of silvery mist. He reappeared next to niche in the far corner of the room. The niche was occupied with a sphere of magical flame, however, so he instead made his escape through the chute.

Artus was the first through the chute after him, followed by Argent and Dragonbait.

Ras Nsi emerged into the throne room and made for the exit. Artus used the Ring of Winter to summon a giant disembodied hand of magical ice. The hand formed a fist that smashed at Ras Nsi. Ras Nsi fell to the ground. Artus drew forth his magical dagger, Bookmark, and began stabbing Ras Nsi.

Ras Nsi was dead.

Artus did not stop. He kept screaming and stabbing at the lifeless body of the evil snake-lord.

Dragonbait looked helpless. Argent Truthsayer consoled the weeping Artus as best as he could.

The mute Dragonbait assisted Artus to his feet. He indicated to Argent that he would take care of the treasure hunter. Artus stopped crying just long enough to say, "I have to go. I- I have to go find her." He used his magic dagger to cut a hole in the air. He and Dragonbait stepped through and disappeared.

Argent picked up the iridescent sword.

Treasure
The party regrouped in Ras Nsi's lair. They quickly made an account of the treasures located within.

There was a flask of Eusebean wine, a bejeweled doublet - also from Eusebea, a fine cloak from Avallonis, a gilded harp from Antumnos, three large cushions covered in silk from Horai, a leather-bound journal, a statuette of a frog god with amethysts for eyes, a clay urn filed with gemstones, and scattered gold and silver coins. The group took what they could wear or easily carry but left the coins on the floor.

Additionally, the party found a palm-sized stone cube with a carving on one side.

"What is it?" inquired Xoc-Wik.

Argent shrugged.

Bramble suggested, "It's obvious. It's one of the nine keys Ras Nsi mentioned. We should find the others."

The Challenge

The serpentine voice of Yahru shouted an alarm near the entrance, "Sekelok! Make haste! I fear someone has attacked the Leader!" The alarm was voiced in such a way as to warn the party that Sekelok was coming rather than to alert Sekelok of treachery.

The party moved to the throne room and prepared for battle. Sekelok and his henchmen appeared in the hallway, "The invaders have returned! And this time they have assassinated the Supreme Leader! They must pay!"

The party was trapped. There were no other exits from the throne room.

Argent and Bramble moved to block the entrance.

Argent stepped forward, "Ras Nsi is dead! We demand to speak to your new Supreme Leader!"

Sekelok looked sternly at Yahru. Yahru called back, "The Supreme Leader designate is in repose. She will not be disturbed!"

Bramble hissed, "I knew it! I told you all! I knew she would screw us!"

Argent then called back, "Then I challenge Sekelok to mortal combat! If I win, my companions and I leave without incident. If I die, my companions will surrender to you!"

Xoc-Wik said, "What??"

Bramble whispered, "Don't worry, there's a secret exit on that wall behind that hanging skin. Go. We'll distract them while the rest of you escape."

"Really," said Argent, "I just want a chance to see that that magic shield does!"

Bramble said, "I don't know. You didn't fight him before. Sekelok is tough. I don't think you'll make it. Let's start thinking of alternatives."

Argent called back, "Come on, Sekelok! You and me! Are you afraid? I'll give you a moment to go get that fancy magic shield of yours!"

Sekelok agreed, "I accept your terms! We shall meet in the Fane in one of your minutes!"

Argent knelt to pray to Bahamut. Bramble rubbed Argent's shoulders to loosen him up in preparation for the fight. "Just remember", the theran said reassuringly, "This is you fault."

The Duel
True to his word as a holy warrior of Bahamut, Argent Truthsayer entered the fane of the Night Serpent a minute later prepared to do battle with Sekelok the Defender.

The gone was struck once. Soon the entire cathedral was filled with nagini - humanoid initiates, hunched degenerates, serpentine warriors, and the more ophidian "masters" of the snake-worshiping cult.

Sekelok bore the shield seen earlier in the armory, the shield made from the shell of a large tortoise. He held it aloft and proclaimed, "I bear the Shield of the Defiler - the Assassin of Eth-To!"

Bramble's eyes grew wide from his position behind the partially closed bronze doors to the corridor that led to the throne room. It was the shell of their former companion Tohaku!

Yahru was to adjudicate the duel. Both opponents would begin on opposite sides of the pool of blood. It was to be a battle to the death. As was the custom of the nagini, the winner would be alchemically transformed into a higher level nagina.

Argent said, "Wait, WHAT?"

"Yes, it is the custom of the nagini. You have challenged a third-stage nagini warrior within the holy fane of Jivantaka the Night Serpent. According to our ways, the winner must undergo the transformation into a higher form."

Argent hesitated, "Got it."

Yahru continued, "Shall we begin?"

Argent looked at Sekelok and nodded. Sekelok nodded in return.

With a subtle wave of Yahru's hand the gong was struck.

Argent turned and ran towards the throneroom. Bramble opened the doors just wide enough to allow Argent to enter.

"What happened to the duel?" asked Bramble.

Argent shouted as he ran past, "They changed the terms on me! Didn't count!"

"Won't your god be displeased?" asked Bramble as he barred the doors closed behind them.

"He'll make an exception. THEY CHANGED THE TERMS!" yelled Argent as he fled towards the secret exit. Bramble followed close behind.

The Grotto
Xoc-Wik, Apparently, and Zeynap found a rowboat on the shore of an underground lake. Zeynap's magic provided the only dim illumination, revealing a chamber with smooth black flowing walls formed by ancient volcanic activity.

They hesitated before getting into the boat. There was only one. Xoc-Wik didn't like leaving Bramble and Argent behind. They'd have no way to get across the lake. He decided to wait for them.

A moment later, Argent and Bramble came running through the exit tunnel.

"Is the duel over already?" inquired Xoc-Wik.

"THEY CHANGED THE TERMS!" was Argent's hurried reply.

The party squeezed onto the small boat and pushed off.

They rowed gently across the placid surface of the black water, heading in a direction that Zeynap had previously described during his exploration of the fungus cavern the day before.

"Wait," said Bramble, "Didn't you say there was a hydra in here?"

A trail of bubbles disturbed the glassy water. A large serpentine head rose from the depths. Then another, a third, a fourth. Eventually five heads reared from the lake. The five heads of the hydra scrutinized them, waiting.

To be Continued...