Chapter 5

Further Exploration of the Crypt

July 9

After Jaysek’s dream, the group decides to continue exploring the crypt. In the morning, they return to the golem room to investigate it more thoroughly. As they descend the steep stairs, Ra loses his footing and slips, tumbling down several steps before managing to catch himself. His armor absorbs most of the impact, leaving him only slightly bruised.

While exploring the corridor leading to the golem room, Neiia notices a loose stone slab on the floor. She begins examining it more closely and manages to lift it. Beneath the stone, they discover a small gambling game: three cups and a place to put a coin. A faded inscription indicates that players should place a coin under one cup, shuffle them, and then guess which cup hides the coin.

Ertak decides to try the game. He places a copper coin under the middle cup, and after some magical shuffling happens automatically, he points to the cup on the right. When they lift it, the coin is indeed there. The floor beneath them shifts, and a small compartment opens, revealing a magical orb with the number “5” and the letters “ER” glowing inside it. Jaysek suggests it might be some kind of magical energy reserve and advises keeping it.

After their discovery, the group returns to the problem of the levers and the circular room. They decide to try pulling all three levers simultaneously, with Neiia, Ra, and Agnarr each taking one.

They pull with all their might, and something finally gives way. However, as Ertak moves to help Ra with his lever, his foot gets caught in a previously unnoticed floor mechanism. The grinding of gears can be heard, and Ertak falls backward in pain as the mechanism crushes the toes of his right foot. Jaysek examines the injury and determines it will take months to heal properly, affecting Ertak’s movement and balance.

Despite the setback, their efforts succeed - the door to the circular room stays open this time. In the middle of the circular room stands a perforated pillar that extends all the way to the ceiling. Curious about the strange construction, Neiia uses her levitation spell to fly closer to it.

As soon as she approaches, the pillar suddenly starts spinning at an incredible speed - at least 6000 rotations per minute by Jaysek’s estimation. Dozens of arrows begin shooting out from the tiny holes in the pillar in all directions. Ra raises his shield for cover while Agnarr and Ertak are both struck by multiple arrows. Neiia tries to fly away from the deadly pillar but is grazed by an arrow and loses concentration, sending her plummeting toward the floor. She manages to slow her fall at the last moment, avoiding serious injury.

In a moment of either incredible bravery or utter madness, Ertak, despite his injured foot, takes a running start and executes a perfect diving jump, head first into the pit in the middle of the room. He holds his shield and crowbar straight out at his sides as he disappears into the darkness below.

Agnarr and Jaysek, weakened by their wounds, stumble and fall to the ground. The barrage continues for about ten seconds before the arrows finally stop. The group spends the next hour tending to their wounds. Ertak, pulled from the pit by rope, uses what healing powers he has left to treat the others before collapsing from exhaustion.