The party spent the remaining day searching the city. Ominously they saw some script written in mud and charcoal on a building wall, “Q, beware of the fangs of Ras Nsi!” They explored further and came across a temple to Kubazan. Defeating the creature outside they overcame the traps inside and secured a puzzle cube. A simple stone cube engraved with the animal symbol of Kuzban. The cube itself was approximately 3” per side, and could easily fit in the palm of one’s hand.
That night as the group rested, they were attacked by Yuan-Ti. Slaying most of them, they managed to interrogate one of the foot soldiers. They got little useful information from the devoted cultist other than the general area where the Yuan-Ti were, and that Ras Nsi was their leader. Losing patience with the fanatic creature, Takari killed the fiend and the group moved camp.
The next day the group stumbled upon a large wheel with engravings on it, watched over by curious creatures. They had large white, expressionless faces and dark, gangly limbs, only a foot or so in height. The creatures made no sound but expressed some curiosity with the group, finally offering them a magical respite from the heat and humidity of the day. Orvex was rather excited, finding that the wheel was a primer of ancient Omu. Using parchment and charcoal, he captured the etchings on the stone wheel and saved the parchments in his scroll case. He claimed that this codex could allow even a novice to be able to interpret the ancient Omu language.
The group made their way through old buildings and found another abandoned campsite. Aside from rotten supplies and a crushed brass horn, the group found a note inside a leather scroll case. It was written by a Lord Brixton and described himself among a group of adventurers that called themselves the Yellow Banner. He claimed that the Tomb of the Nine Gods held great riches, including the famous Eye of Zaltec. This was a large jewel with a nefarious past, being used for sacrificial rituals.
The group explored the city further and came across another temple to the god, Shagambi, where they secured another puzzle cube. Weary from the trials of the temples and their efforts, they came across an abandoned camp. They discovered a scene much like where they rescued Orvex. Some human corpses and a crude funeral pyre of Yuan-Ti. Among the remains they discovered a journal that was half burned. Much of it was not legible but a few pages of flourished script of daily entries that described excursions into districts of the city, searching for temples. Underlined was a note stating ‘The puzzle boxes are needed to enter the tomb.’ Along with another stating that ‘The skeleton keys are required to final tomb.’ The script appeared familiar and looked as if penned by Quelthalas himself.
