Thursday, August 16, 2018

A tenuous alliance, an ambush, a surprise attack, and entrance into the tomb

The company settled in early among the rubble of the ancient amphitheater. As promised, the Red Wizards of Thay entered the ruins at high noon, with Amaras inquiring what number of puzzle cubes the group had obtained. The group finally produced their bounty after some attempts of subterfuge, and the wizards began to discuss term on how the two parties might continue this joint expedition. Suddenly an arrow dug into the shield of a man-at-arms. Yuan-ti, led by Ras Nisi himself, flooded into the amphitheater.

Suspecting betrayal, Amaras yelled for his followers to attack everyone. The group found themselves beset at all sides in a wild melee. As expedition warriors and snakemen fell, a beastial roar was heard. Crashing out from the light brush an immense Tyrannosaurus entered into the fray, swallowing a screaming Amaras. The puzzle cubes fell to the ground in a leather pouch still clutched by his severed arm.

The immense beast tore into the party and Yuan-ti alike, eventually slaying all the cultists and Red Wizards, save one wizard which cast invisibility on herself and slipped away. With deft thinking and action, the company was able to slow the beast, grab the cubes and escape. However the terrible creature pursued them, pushing them north.

The adventurers were corralled to a small glade at the city’s edge, where suddenly the tremendous creature stopped, roared defiantly, and then retreated. The group took stock of their surroundings and realized they were at the tomb entrance. They suspected some great evil here make the beast uncomfortable, and it stalked off, away from these bleak surroundings.

Overcoming traps and puzzles the group was able to enter the tomb, only to have a door shut behind them, sealing them inside. With streams of light coming in from above the group carefully explored the entrance. Branching right, they found a large room with a narrow ledge and sections of stairs that led down into darkness. Briefly they were able to make out a strange, pale figure in a section below them. The dwarvish creature appeared to work some hidden mechanism, slip into an entrance that formed in the stone walls, and have it seal up after them.

Seeing this odd denizen and realizing that there were many approaches forward, the group decided to head back into the entrance hall and discuss the best way to further explore the Tomb of the Nine Gods.