Gifts from the Dead

A foreboding pit filled with fungus stood between the party and what they believe is the exit from the Feywild Ruin.  The table didn't seem to be an option here as the wood was rotting away.  Gofin and Demin were averse to attempting a climb of the walls above the pit given previous trials.  The fungus was wet and did not burn, spores appeared above the fungus whenever something was thrown into the pit.  Melisana decided to use Angelic Blades to fly across the pit carrying her rope with her.  When she landed Lythandar and Melisana found that trying to drive pitons to stake the rope was beyond difficult as the floor and walls were like chalk which broke easily.  


Pretis came up with a plan to use the rubble from the downward slope to create a set of stepping stones through the fungus filled pit.  With Lythandar and Mara's help Pretis moved a couple of rock slabs over to the pit and dropped them in.  Eventually they created an area that Pretis could step on above the fungus.  The group then continued to create a stepping stone pathway across the pit.  It seemed a little shaky at times but the party seemed to be able to move across the pit.  Gofin slipped at one point and fell unconscious into the fungus.  Mara leaped down and carried her across and out the far side.  The only other party member with this difficulty was Alhellara, who had a rope tied to her, so Mara again could play heroine and proceed to carry Alhellara across and up.  

Once on the far side the group found the passage leading east and ending.  Halfway to the end was a chamber to the north filled with a layer of filth and detritus.  Again they saw a wooden door in the northeast and a stone archway filled with gray mist on the northwest.  Mara made sure that the wooden door was false and the party decided to exit through the arch.

They again found themselves in the rune covered hallway with three arches.  Discussion followed as they tried to determine if they should have found another key.  Passing through the arch to the west they entered again the room with the shattered remains of vats with broken glass and crockery spread across the floor.  Searching they found no key.  Passing down to the pit they searched the pit and again found only spikes.  Entering the door/arch chamber, Mara again determined that the wooden door was false and no one found any other concealed doors or keys.  Passing once again through the arch the party was back in the ruin covered hallway.

At this point the group decided to backtrack to the tunnel area and explore to the north.  Passing through the sphere of pain they returned to the tunnel.  Mara and Pretis moved north and peered into a rectangular room paved with 1 foot square green tiles bearing arcane sigils and glyphs that were unreadable.  At the far end of the chamber, the face of a great green devil loomed on the wall.

The party cautiously approached the great horned devil, which resembled previously seen devil faces in the Perilous Archways and Black Well.  Gofin  gazed at the eyes to see if there were keyholes there but alas she found none.  Mara looked into the gaping black mouth and saw plain wall behind it.  Gofin searched for secret doors and found that the wall inside the mouth hid a doorway.  She then used her skills to open the door and peered beyond into another carved tunnel area.

Mara and Pretis again led the party through into the winding cavern tunnel which led north to a larger open area.  Pretis moved up and spied a door to the east.  This door was unlocked and Pretis easily open it to reveal an pentagonal room.   Carved pillars stood at each corner and mystic runes wound around the walls.  Weapons, clothing, and armor covered a red stone dais at the room's center.  There was a door on the eastern side of the room also.

Immediately Lythandar and Melisana check for magic and everything on the dais glowed.  Lythandar rushed forward and found all the magical items he had lost in the Perilous Archways.  The rest of the party started to examine the rest of the loot.  Lythandar added the +4 Magic Orb to his collection being the only one who could use the orb.  Melisana claimed the +4 Rod of First Blood as she alone can use Rods.  Having nothing magical on her feet, Gofin claimed the Planestrider Boots while Demin took the Flying Hook.  Further discussion ensued regarding the longsword, chainmail, and the Kinetic Oil.  Alhellara stated that if she took the armor her healing powers would be reduced some but she could really use the additional armor so she claimed the +4 curseforged Chain.  Pretis wanting to keep her pick axe took the Kinetic Oil, which had 7 applications.  Mara took the +4 vicious longsword.

After the long day the party decided this might be a place to take and extended rest and they settled down for a well deserved respite.  After an uninterrupted slumber the party pushed through the eastern door and found themselves in a vast foul ossuary filled with shattered bones, dismembered bodies, and the stench of death.  The boneyard was in a pit area that was crossed by twisting bridges of flesh and bone rising 20 feet above the floor.  Steep slopes led down from the 10 foot passage around the south and west of the ossuary.

Moving slowly around the ledge the group could see the chambers ceiling at 20 feet above their heads.  The ledge led around but not through the ossuary and a chamber to the south was completely empty.  The bridge consisted of shattered bones, lashed together with mummified flesh and rotting sinews creating a 3 foot wide bridge above the charnel floor.  Bone arches supported the bridge at each junction and along the walls.  

Seeing no enemy the group determined to cross the bridge cautiously.   Gofin led the way carrying a rope with her,  Pretis followed and then came Mara, Lythandar and Melisana.  Demin remained behind to be able to use his crossbow against any monster that appeared.  Alhellara was in the rear at her usual post, willing to move up for healing when needed.   As Gofin passed the first junction a faint, unearthly moaning began to rise.  From the boneyard, ghostly shaped took form in tight ranks, shrieking as they soared to the attack.  

In their initial flurry two phantoms slid Mara and Pretis over the edge of the bridge where they tumbled to the charnel floor.  Demin determined that the phantoms and ghosts were insubstantial and Lythandar used that knowledge to his advantage with Inescapable Force.  Melisana blasted and area with Rebuke Undead and between herself and Lythandar several of the ghosts fell back into the pit.  When Pretis attempted to stand she felt almost as though she could sink into the bone covered floor but she stood just as two Tormentors flanked her.  Mara also stood slowly and provided a large burst sending several Tormentors back to the floor.  

Scorecard:  The party earned 143 XP for their exploits with the fungus pit and now have 61200 XP needing 7800 additional XP to reach 16th level.  In addition to the magic items the party also found 4 potions of Vitality.