26th of Rolier 1524 Continued
The group took an hour rest after fighting the demonic Gnolls. At 2pm the group goes into next room.
Fourth Room:
- Fargrim - Chainmail
- Felix - Glasses
- Karl - Scroll case
- Lily - Amulet of Health
- Lyra - Bow
- Simone - Holy Water
- Xeldarix - Coin Pouch
Once the group picks up their items they approach the word wall to attempt the riddle.
"Alive without breath,
As cold as death,
Never thirsty but always drinking,
All in mail but never clinking."
Lyra was quick to point out fish fit this well. In the end this was indeed the answer and the group move through into the next room.
The next room had four large golems, one in each corner, three bookcases and a desk. The seven pedestals lay with items waiting for the group.
Fifth Room:
- Fargrim - Hammer
- Felix - Sword of Warning
- Karl - Flask
- Lily - Rope
- Lyra - Ring of Protection
- Simone - Art Book
- Xeldarix - Dagger
Felix investigated the desk and found 5 keys, a brass device and a deck of cards. The brass device revealed it had certain cards missing. Diamonds = 7, Spades = Jack, Hearts = Queen and Clubs = 5.
Karl looked at one of the book cases to discover it was about stars and the constellations.
Lily looked at one of the book cases to do with mathematics and card games.
Lyra look at the last book case that was about constructions and golems.
Fargrim looked at the golems which had runes on them.
Simone looked at the door to see it had a combination lock and a key hole.
Xeldarix kept watch on the golems.
The group looked around and talked about what they found. Fargrim realised with the door having no guide for what went where for the possible card options. However, he recalled card games like Bridge that have a ranking system. Using that the group put the numbers (in the following order J Q 7 5) and tried the star key. The door opened.
The next room was another small one once again. Lyra quickly picked up this was likely another fight and warned the group as they collected their items.
Sixth Room:
- Fargrim - Hammer
- Felix - Rapier
- Karl - Arcane Focus
- Lily - Potion of SoF
- Lyra - Coin Bag
- Simone - Tarot deck
- Xeldarix - Shortsword
As soon as the pedestals went down two Spirit Naga's slithered into the room, but they didn't last long as the group tore them down.
Seventh room:
- Fargrim - Hammer
- Felix - One of Fargrim's many hammers
- Karl - Grappling Hook
- Lily - Headbands of Intelligence
- Lyra - Fargrim's rations
- Simone - Candles, alms, incents, tinderbox in a wrap.
- Xeldarix - Mirror
This room had another word wall with the riddle: "What can the hand only sow what only the eye can harvest?"
Karl says the answer is Writing to the spirit and the door opens.
The next room is a room of rest with a fireplace and bedroll available. There was another pedestal near the exit.
Eighth room:
- Fargrim - Warhammer of Moradin
- Felix - Lily's Boots of Barkskin
- Karl - Component Pouch
- Lily - Rations
- Lyra - Fargrim's rations
- Simone - Waterskin
- Xeldarix - One of Fargrim's many hammers
- Extra: A letter addressed to the party
The letter read:
Welcome challengers,
You have shown great strength and intellect to reach this stage. Beyond this door is the final part of the trial where I will personally test your heart to see if you can be the one to bring the lost children home.
Rest, eat, sleep and when you are ready, open the door. I will take the opening of the door as the sign you are ready.
Sala'am
The group agrees to take the advice and settles in for some downtime and a long rest. During this long rest Lily approaches Simone in her tent to ask a question.
Question:
“What is involved in the final part of this trial?”
Answer:
“During this whole trial you have lost much and regained much but in this final trial one of the things you value the most will be taken from some of you,
Look to those you trust and who trust you to overcome the trial as it is not something to take on alone despite first appearance,
The stage is set, the trial will look like one thing but it is just a cover for what he is really looking for in you all. If you overcome this you will save what was taken.”
Felix approached Simone and Lily for a card game but quickly figured out Simone's cards were not playing cards, but instead hand painted cards. He left them to their private conversation and attempted to go back through the temple to where he knew a deck of cards was hiding, but found himself at the entrance instead. He quickly returned to the group and instead Fargrim got out his cards so they could play. Lily and Simone joined them when they were done.
Meanwhile Lyra and Karl did language lessons with Xeldarix.
Watches: Fargrim, Lyra and Lily
27th of Rolier 1524
The next morning the party woke up without anything having bothered them overnight. They take the time to eat and prepare themselves for the trial ahead.
Upon opening the door
Final room:
- Fargrim - Holy Symbol
- Felix - Karl's coin bag
- Karl - Gem Bag
- Lily - Thieves Tools
- Lyra - Karl's letter
- Simone - Fargrim's Potion of healing
- Xeldarix - Silver Knitting Needles
Anubis greeting them with clapping and asked the group why they were here. When they replied to get the mask, Anubis asked about the fifth individual that is tied to the stone before requesting a volunteer to take their place.
When it is asked what happens to the other Anubis dismisses them as spares. This causes Xeldarix, Simone and Good to collapse onto the sand and sink below the surface. In that same moment hands grab the ankles of the party and spin them round so they form a circle with their backs to one another. Then stone shoots up out of the ground between each of them separating each other.
A Warrior of Anubis raises out of the sand before each of the party. They wait for each member of the group to either run or make an offensive move before returning the attack. They taunt those that don't attack straight away, and try various ways to provoke the party. Even summoning the tortured screams of their missing friends.
In the end various member proved themselves to be of strong hearts. Via self sacrifice and persistence. In the end Fargrim and Karl were the only ones left standing when the room reset. Fargrim was overcome with rage and tried to dig down to his missing friends where he heard their cries. However, he dug down but never found them and in the end the hole started to reform itself and push him out. Anubis greeted them and Fargrim tried to attack him.
However in his range and attempt to throw a weapon not made for it caused him to accidently hit Karl instead. It is revealed their friends are safe, merely sleeping. They appear on throne, Xeldarix and Simone sleeping peacefully together, while the other were around the base of it.
Karl and Fargrim wake each of them up. Xeldarix was actually Alexis and seemed to be slow in her thoughts and movements, requiring a bit of coaxing to get her moving. She seemed to cling to Karl as they leave. Anubis gives them the mask and a vision of where to go next.
He leaves them and the group leaves, collecting their remaining items and heading for the bell tower to collect hidden items. Then Jarvis' tower at 9am. Lila was outside and greeted the party, seemingly eager to leave town soon. Jarvis and Alfonso had apparently been talking a lot.
Lila it seems was sent out of the tower for being rude and distrubing the Master and Mother of Jarvis. Jarvis gifts the group with items as a congratulations which Karl spends time identifying.
They discuss the possibility of seeing the maze before they go but aren't sure if they'll do it today or have a rest day.
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