(written by Joel, player of Durham, concerning a recent delve into the Necropolis and earning Durham 100 xp per level)
It has been some time since I have put pen to paper to write of my adventures. The Ringing Anvil has occupied more of my time. I was finally able to bring to market items of my own design, the sale did not go as well as hoped but it was a learning experience. The utility belt being the most popular item gives me insight to what consumers are seeking. But business is not poor by any means, we have received two commissions. A specialized helm for Bartholomew and a splendid lantern commission by the Survivors.
Speaking of the Survivors, I was a witness to the Barcidae suit against them as they were served their papers from the court of the moon. I count myself lucky in that I was un-named in the lawsuit, but my understanding is that my membership with the Kantor offers me some protection. However, I will tread cautiously as it seems that the Barcidae are on the warpath and I wish to not cause any more trouble for my friend or myself.
I did do a small expedition to the Ocean's throat but I do not wish to go into any details. For it was another adventure where I lost control of my mental faculties and I do not enjoy re-telling those stories.
My most recent adventure to the necropolis however is a story worth telling. Our party departed through the gate of the mourners and was joined by other members of the Survivors along the road. We went to finish our search for treasure in Dalan's tomb. Most of the trip was uneventful with my ever faithful Pako scouting the way. Sesel having made a map of what was previously explored made navigation swift as well.
We were soon where we left off in a chamber with two large doors with klackons on it but we also knew of a secret door here as well. We explored the secret passage for a few moments but Ix seem very determined to proceed back to the main chamber through the Klackon inscribed doors, seeking to understand the history and secrets of his/her ancestors.
But these doors were sealed by some magic, so a spell scroll with the incantation to unlock the door was read and the door opened.
Inside we found a large rectangular chamber, with many urns along the wall. Ix ran inside excitedly. A passage was open to our left, she followed the urns along the wall and continued through to the next chamber.
Ix was quite excited, claiming these were the remains of her ancestors. Chittering to herself in Klackon, moving her head back and forth and twitching her antenna. Ix seem intent on looking for a hidden door. Yet as soon as we entered the next chamber Ix returned back to the first chamber this time focused on the ground and revealing a door in the floor.
We lifted the door out of its place, like a manhole cover to a sewer. The hole went into the ground, we estimated the hole to go a hundred feet deep, so we joined two ropes to get down. As I made my descent the walls had cravings, depicting large klackons in battle with Dalan's army. These klackons look different than the ones I had seen early, more demon like in their face.
When I reached the bottom it was dark, but Pako seemed alerted to something. The room was round and contained a set of large doors.
"YES!" Ix said. "Here is where the great one's are." And before we could step forward to investigate a light show through the edges of the doors. Something was happening on the other side. Sesel asked the party to stay their hands from any threatening movements. While our setting was quite ominous, they had a connection to Ix and perhaps diplomacy could be a solution.
We enter through the great doors, find five sarcophagus, three had opened with large Klackon rising out of them, the other two remained closed with red alien writing glowing on the bottom.
We began to parley with these super klackons through a device Avin had, in hindsight Avin might have not been the best person to lead the negotiations.
As we talked we learned that they had been asleep in these sarcophagi for a long perhaps five thousand years or more, they even mentioned a time when gold was not the commonly traded currency. However, one thing was clear, they believe Klackons and humans coexistence impossible. While we would normally engage in combat, we had allowed them to arm themselves and given their robust build and advanced weaponry we decided that a direct approach would be our disadvantage. So we decided to play along and be their slaves, offering to guide them out of this place.
We lead them to our rope having most of our party ascend first leaving Avin and Sesel with the three large klackons. Two of them began to climb the rope and when they neared the top we sprung our trap. For we had devised a plan to cut the rope to eliminate their number. We had come to the conclusion that these Klackons would be no allies of the dual-city's, more likely they would turn the free klackons against mankind and raise the city to the ground.
We let our enemy fall to their death, while Pako and I readied another length of rope to retrieve Sesel and Avin. However, when our enemy crash into the ground we were surprised to see them rise back to their feet. These super klackons were super tough.
Ix became angry at our choice to cut the rope and engaged me in combat. There was no time to debate loyalties with Ix and I had friends below outnumbered with no way of escape. I ordered Pako to attach the rope quickly to my belt, then I tucked my head underneath my shield and ramed Ix with all my weight, forcing her down the hole with me as well.
We fell down into the pit, I grabbed the rope hoping to catch myself but the rope burned my hand, but it gave me enough time to reposition my shield allowing it to take the brute force of the landing. A loud pang went off in the chamber as I hit the floor. I rolled away from the fall as my damaged shield slipped from my arm and skipped away into the darkness. I centered on the rope and began to climb, when suddenly all was dark. Someone up above had cast darkness to aid in Avin and Sesel escape. When we were all gathered at the top we did have one more among our number. One of the super klackons was up here with us, Sesel had dominated its mind. Using the last of his control over it, he commanded the Klackon to take its own life. It did.
There was a moment of silence, then a voice could be heard echoing from the open trap door.
"Go and run! But know that the true master are coming."
We brought up what remain of the rope and sealed the trap door again. We were able to retrieve the armament and belt from dead Klackon and luckily enough they had allow us to ferry some of their treasure up before we sprung our trap.
The road home seemed longer than normal, but that is the way when a life is lost in an adventure. I did not know Ix well but I know she was a friend of the Survivors. And I have sympathy for their loss.
We agree to let Sesel handle any questions asked of the party and give explanation to the arrival of Avin. I was too tired to drink and carouse with friends, so I retired to bed. But one thought stayed with me before sleep took me. It was during our parley with the klackons. They seemed confused and surprised that we came by rope. Their comments between them were brief but they spoke as if they had another means of escape.
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