Quite a bit happened during the session. I added some details in the recap that were not stated during the game. Hopefully this recap will help clear things up. If something is unclear or confusing, please ask questions.
Jade Statue Fight:
The small surprise of the jade statues animating passed and the fight continued.
The statues were destroyed, leaving behind piles of jade stone fragments (1 pound = 10 gp). It's worth noting that Dirk managed to get a good look down the hole during the fight. He noticed two important things: #1 A magical Darkness blocked light from traveling further down the hole #2 A nasty looking gray ooze was noticed moving around on the ledge.
Explore Secret Passage:
After the fight, the group explored the northern part of the room for a bit and found some mundane items (priest robes, small ceremonial items, etc). After some discussion, they decided to take the secret door in the Northwest of the Main Temple room. (see photo #1) The Red Suns regrouped with Flo'rel taking the lead and they proceeded down the secret passage two abreast. There was an initial steep downward slope and then the corridor curved eastward. The group spotted a door; in front of this door lay the desiccated corpse of the High Priestess dressed in her Ceremonial Armor (see photo #2. Magical Splint Mail: Immune to Frightened & Resist Acid damage). In her outstretched limbs laid the Golden Bowl, which was essential to the Cleansing Ceremony. A Hutaakan priest was brought forward and he confirmed all this.
Flo'rel sensed an Undead presence within the armor. Able to distiniguish brave from stupid, Flo'rel bravely ordered the priest to take the Bowl...
...and SURPRISE! A deadly Wraith arose! The poor priest didn't stand a chance. (see photo #3) The Wraith struck the Hutaakan and he ...melted (see photo #4) and presumably the priest's soul was consumed. A Hutaakan apparition formed over the puddle of bony, fleshy goo that was formerly the priest. Next, the Paladin nearly suffered the same fate from the Wraith (crit hit), but his hardy fortitude allowed him to resist (Con Save). Fortunately the group had numbers on their side and the Wraith and priestly Specter were dispatched.
The Cleansing Ceremony:
Now that the Red Suns had the Golden Bowl to complete the Cleansing Ceremony, the group headed back to the black altar in the Main Temple room to complete the ritual. When the lone remaining Hutaakan priest completed the ceremony, a monstrous scream could be heard from below that echoed up through the tunnel.
The Hutaakan nodded as if expecting this and said "Kartoeba has been bound to its lair and the restless undead have been banished. We should still be wary though, there are still deadly traps and other undead guardians rumored to be in the Temple."
Then a mighty rumble could be heard and felt from the front wall of the Temple. The front wall of the Temple complex slid downward roughly 50 feet, sealing off the front entrance and trapping the group within the Temple.
~ Zlyzzyrc sends his regards ~
The telepathic voice of Foredz, the High Priest and Leader of the Hutaakans, could be heard in everyone's mind. The stunned Hutaakan's face was a picture of despair, "we've been betrayed." He said in a small voice.
~ Fear not the betrayer. The betrayer only betrays himself ~
Sekolah telepathically reminded Bistek.
Hutaakans' Dark Secret Revealed:
Having nowhere to go but forward, the Red Suns continued exploring the secret passage in the Northwest. The group explored two crumbling rooms that were fractured by repeated earthquakes over the years. The occaisional sounds of footsteps could be heard ahead.
The third room was the High Priests' private library. The Hutaakan expressed some hesitancy towards opening the holy books, but remembered that his own leader betrayed him and his whole Culture is based on lies; so he said "fuck it." Bistek used his Comprehend Language spell and found some nifty books bound in scaly fish skin and written in a completely alien language. Apparently, the Immortal Pflarr abandoned the Hutaakans (or perhaps never existed) and the high priests secretly worship some evil Immortal name Zlyzzyrc.
Dead Undead:
Woops! I made a mistake! The Undead waiting for you were destroyed by the Cleansing Ceremony. So you see a pile of rotting corpses and you never heard those retreating footsteps.
CURRENT DATE&TIME
June 1, 1001 a.c. (After Crowning of the First Thyation Emperor)
12:00 pm EBST (Eastern Brun Standard Time)
EXPERIENCE POINTS
1,020 xp each.
Photo #1
Photo #2
Photo #3
Photo #4
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