Rathyl hikes a safe distance down the south path and west path to check for any signs of which way to go, other life, or clues of some kind.

Renakaris examines the plants. They are hard to decipher because of the effect of the Cursed Earth every sunrise. She can tell that there is plenty of water and the earth nearby is a dark volcanic soil. The sky above shows her the proper directions, and she can see that the plants have trees and plenty of verdant growth all around.

The bottom of the pool is primarily large, dark volcanic rocks.

Zaron is already mortified by his miscalculation. "It has to be close. I couldn't have been that far off. Could I? My master, Azaron, was much better than this than I am." Zaron is only about 30 years old and very eager, but seems less self-assured now than he was. Beads of sweat roll down his stringy and curly black hair.

Rathyl scouts the area. The south water exit and the trail to the west converge and head south.

At the intersection, Rathyl also finds several scythes next to some skeletons that have been here for quite some time, possibly 5-10 years. The clothes are rotted, but a small leather sack contains 90 silver coins with an unfamiliar face pressed onto it and a leaf pressed onto the back. 120 copper coins of similar design are also inside. The scythes are small but would be useful to push a trail through the overgrowth that is very dense here.

Renakaris hoists herself up a tree. It is hard to see much because the mist blankets everything. However, there appears to be some sort of clearing area with some small structures and a stone wall to the south. She cannot see where the trail goes as it winds to the northwest.

Zaron looks around at his wagon and the barrel. Everything has transported here without any problems.

"Never mind. get over it and concentrate on what's immediate," says Renakaris, only marginally more engaging than a block of stone.

After sharing what she's seen, the dark elf continues, "We take the sack, coins and scythes. Unless we stand in the pool and hope for the best, direction is either northwest passage to don't know what, or south to a tiny stone settlement. I'd say south. What do you say?"

Rathyl takes one of the scythes, hands one to Renakaris and one to Zaron, or Vegren if he's still here. "Yes, let's head south." He will lead the way with Renakaris, and Vegren and Zaron can take the back.

Renakaris nods and the move south.

Taking the scythes in your hands, Vegren, Rathyl, Renakaris, and Zaron move south cautiously.

As you do, you notice the following:
1) It is pitch dark out. This means the portal took you from around sunset to the middle of the night, so you are likely far away from where you started.
2) The "settlement" ahead of you to the south is not a settlement, something you notice as you approach and see it in the mist. It is actually a cemetery.

The trail leads to the northern gate to the cemetery. Clearly, the cemetery has not been used in a long time, possibly up to even a hundred years. Overgrowth covers everything. Gravestones are cracked or worn or even fallen over, likely due to the "cursed earth" effect as anything else.

Zaron confirms your thoughts. "It looks like this cemetery has not been used since before the Cataclysm, which was about 75 years ago, and which brought about the Cursed Earth."

You look around but see no footprints or signs of recent use. No one has been here in a long, long time, it seems.

"Is there sufficient stone underfoot here or do we need to keep searching?" asks Renakaris.

Zaron says you still have a few hours until sunrise, although theoretically you could stand on top of a gravestone or climb on a stone tomb for safety when the sun rises.

"Ok, so here's our fall back place. Would standing in the water, where the bottom is rock, be preferable to here? What do you think of me using Leomunds Hut spell there? If so, we can try the other direction for an hour or so.."

Before leaving, Renakaris wanders around the graveyard and so forth to see if any secret doors present themselves to her and then does another circuit with the Detect Seci Dooi spell in effect.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:23, Thu 31 Mar 2022.

Rathyl is worried more about a graveyard in the middle of nowhere at the moment, more so than the upcoming dawn. "Let's check the graveyard over first and see if we stumble on more options. We may find some clues about where we are also."

Rathyl will lead the group into the graveyard slowly, keeping his eyes open along the way. The male ranger uses his skills to spot if anything out of the ordinary is on the ground or flora, and he asks if Renakaris has any special vision or skills to help as they explore.

NOTE: I am replacing players for our two lost souls: Sariel and Vegren. Therefore, don't be surprised if you see posts from them or if they voice sounds a little...different. And please welcome them to the group!

Welcome, both!

The graveyard is very large. You stand at the northern entrance facing south.



There are several paths through the graveyard. One leads straight south, and then every 20-30 feet, there is a path cutting left or right. Scattered throughout (as far as you can see anyway) are occasional one or two person tombs made of stone.

Your visibility is about 30-40 feet, so it is hard to tell what is beyond exactly. You don't see the far end.

As Rathyl starts to investigate the graveyard for indications of hidden ways Renakaris joins him, her keen eyes looking for concealed or secret doorways. On any particularly promnising areas she casts the spell to Detect Secret Passages and Portals and that any within a 120 foot area will glow for ten minutes.

As you progress south down the main path, you don't see anything out of the ordinary. There is overgrowth and signs that the Cursed Earth effects have tainted the ground. The graves and gravestones are ancient.

After about 100 yards, you reach what appears to be the center area of the cemetery. The crosshatched rows between graves ends. Instead, there is an old crumbled stone wall encircling the center area.

The graves here are arranged in a more haphazard way as you  walk slowly south past the crumbled wall. Zaron pulls the cart behind you. After about 20 yards in, you see a tomb to the southwest.

Renakaris begins casting...



As the spell is being cast, you hear movement from the south. Humanoid forms are approaching you, but you cannot make them out yet in the mist and darkness. You cannot make out details, but the lead seems to be wearing a dark cloak with face shadowed. The others carry weapons. There are at least six, but it is hard to tell in the mist and shadows.

Renakaris finishes her spell. There is some sort of secret passage or portal, but it is inside the tomb.

But it looks like you have something else to worry about now. One of the shadowed figures in front of you begins casting a spell.

"Inside. Now," says Renakaris, amking for the secret door..

Rathyl follows Renakaris, using the tomb as cover while Renakaris. He yells out as he runs, "We are well armed. Surrender your weapons and do not cast any spells."

Sariel and Vegren: Anything to say or do?

Vegren will not back down easily. He throws the scythe in the direction of the oncoming group and draws his whipsword, the Tail of the Ouroborus, whipping it to its straight, sword form. "I have not dined on blood today, but by the gods, we shall not fall to your evil magic!"

He grasps the sword in front of him with both hands and marches forward, showing no signs of weakness.

Just as Vegren moves forward, a voice from one of those in the darkness says, "We wish you no ill will. We are simply passing through. If you do not attack us, we will continue on our way, peacefully."

Another male voice says, "We are weary travelers looking to pass through.  We mean no harm."

As Vegren approaches closer, he sees that the first one that spoke appears to wear a cleric's robe and is holding a holy symbol. "I am a priest of Tyr..." he starts.

"Passing through to where exactly?" says Renakaris in a voice barely above a whisper as she silently draws her and readies her sword, lower legs swaying with the start of 'the dance'.

Note that when Renakaris went to find the secret door or passage, she found that it is actually inside the tomb, meaning you have to find a way in the tomb first. The stone door is heavy and secured to the tomb.

"We mean you no harm," says another, who appears to be a wizard. But as he says this, he begins to cast a spell. Vegren's body begins to glos, but Vegren shakes it off.

The priest says, "We will not fight you! There is no evil magic here! We, too, seek to stop Tarimar. He is your enemy, not us!" He takes a step back unmenacingly.

He seems to be pondering Renakaris' question.

A voice responds to Renakaris about where they are going: "There is a gnomish village not far from here. We need the help of a healer there to craft a cure for the Black Curse, which we have all been afflicted with. Tell me, do you know of (whatever the name of that Drow man we found at the beginning of this storyline was)? He knew of our coming and tried to help us, but succumbed to the Curse before we could help him."

"Where exactly is the village? By that I mean approximate bearing and distance," presses Renakaris."Tell me about this curse. How is it transmitted? And what doom does it bring?"