Rise of The Runelords 1 - Burnt Offerings

"I say we send osmus in, he can be our flaming little torch that lights the way."

Shathys grins, Not entirely sure that he himself is joking.

Osmus crawls into Sharas hood and mumbles offending phrases in draconic. The only understandable thing anyone can make out is "stupid adventurers and stupid adventures, you are going to die".

"Probably not the best idea" Shara smiles. "He's grumpy enough as it is, setting him on fire probably wont help".

She lights a torch and sticks it inside.

The light from the torch reveals a stone staircase leading down into the darkness.

"Well...Deep down ascend, shall we?"

Shathys lights his own torch, the more light the better in his mind.

As he steps forward, keeping the torch high in the air above him, and keeping the spiked chain at the ready, swinging slowly and dangerously, reach to strike at the flick of his wrist.

Shara carefully follows Shathys, mentally preparing herself for doom and destruction.

Jack takes a last glance at the serene nature and follows.

For long minutes, you travel down the steep and zigzagging staircase. The walls seem to soak up the light, and the echoes of your footsteps sound like beatings of a far-off drum.

After hundreds of steps, the staircase end before a dark wooden door. A rusty metal ring in the door serves as a handle.

"Anybody home?" Shathys calls loudly before taking two long strides, jumping forward and booting the door open , his spiked chain making a deadly sharp sound as it whirls through the air, ready to harm any target.

Spoiler:

The door swings open silently. An almost tangible darkness pours out of the open door like freezing water. Shathys feels the full brunt of its life-sapping cold, his joints stiffening and hair standing on end. After a moment the darkness drains away and your torches sputter into renewed life.

Shathys:

Spoiler:

Shathys drops to one knee, coughing and sputtering. Wisps of darkness coil out of his mouth for a few moments before he regains his composure.

Shathys:

Spoiler:

Jack helps Shathys up again.
"Are you alright friend? Y'know you should be grateful, I've seen people die when trying to enter the wrong door by force."

Spoiler:

As you look around, you notice a GIANT, BLACK BIRD-DEMON WITH BURNING GREEN EYES STANDING JUST INSIDE THE ROOM, READY TO STRIKE YOU DOWN WITH WICKEDLY TALONED HANDS.

Then you notice that it's a statue.

You hear a sharp intake of breath from Jack.

Shathys gasps, coughing and spluttering. "That..was not...Natural.." Shathys growls through clenched teeth.

"We need to find the cause of this, and end it, quickly. I would not want to be here longer than necessary."

"DO NOT go and get yourself killed already. I was just starting to like you" Shara says with a grin to Shathys. Though she's smiling, you get a feeling that she's sincerely concerned about her newfound friends.

"Well it appears you aren't dying just yet."
Jack takes a step towards the bird statue, trying to discern what's in the room.

As you stick your head through the doorway and look around, it becomes clear that the room is round. You can see as far as the middle of the room, where the large and extremely lifelike bird demon statue stands. You can't see the ceiling. Several green gemstones in the statue reflect the light from your torches. You also notice that the walls have words written on them, but you don't recognize the language.

"Hey magic girl, check these walls out." Jack says and hints towards the mystic words.

"Remember that i had to leave Chelaxian and study with a dwarf, i probably know more about swords and stones than magic, but i'll give it a try".

Shara examines the words and tries to remember.

Spoiler:

You do not recognize the language.

"I am truly sorry, but i have absolutely no idea what we're looking at". Shara says with a shrug. Osmus is still hiding in her hood, "it's creepy in here Shara, we should leave" he whispers.

"Don't touch the gemstones, it might trigger something." Jack says and carefully moves around the statue careful of traps or potential enemies.

Jack: Make a perception check.