To the Halfling's amazement the words appeared to him in his native tongue. "There is clearly a great and strong magic here. These words are written in my native language yet my kind has not yet graced this time. , We need to be aware that the tower is very aware of our presents even if the creatures here are not."

Then as if on cue a new set of lights, these colored white, appeared revealing two new holes hidden from the party earlier. The holes clearly shaped to fit the two gems.

"There.." Ulthok pointed, "the tower is calling us on,.I believe that is the key to the next passage." Turning to Sirene, " Let me take that stone so I can place them both,just in case there is another unpleasant surprise as was in the finger hole. The tower is calling us to come play,..we need to travel with care,the touch me to flash warning could either be our key to be free of this time ..or maybe to free the Evil."

Holding a gem in each gloved hand Ulthok fit a gem to each hole.

At once the center piece of the stone shaped boxes begin to open showing the party a set of stairs leading down. However with the door's opening the temperature in the room dropped at once into the minus degrees, the freezing cold causing the party to take a varying amount of damage. Bracing for a physical attack that did not come the party, except for Aliya and Roan, totally unprotected for the moment to this natural blast of freezing cold.

(DM OOC: Ok everyone took 12 points of damage except for Alyia and Roan who only took 6 as they are both wearing armor of Elemental Resistance. As you are all now into round timing you'll continue to take such damage each round as long as you remain unprotected. If you head down the stairs the level of cold will decrease causing you higher points of damage. The cold is not magical in nature but natural, think Antarctica cold. Ok next post next Sunday and I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving.)

Lothor felt the intense cold lash from the crypt and almost felt his breath taken away. It was cold! He had not expected that. What had he expected? Darkness? A lich bursting forth? Sure, but not this.

But this was beyond him. It was up to the others. he would start by removing the gems, but that was up to Ulthok. He held his ground and waited for the gate to be shut.

The icy rush of a deathly cold bored into her bones. It was the cold of death, of the void. Swirling into her being and draining life from her veins. Siréne could hear the death siren call. A sweet lullaby of relief, at long last relief.

Go on, give in. You have fought so hard. Just close your eyes and rest.

The witch shook her head, dispelling the moment of mortal weakness. She would fight on, they all would.

"This ice of death will not claim us!" Siréne called, raising her arms into the air.

The life giving magic of the Goddess flowed into her, suffusing her with the heat of life. A boiling churning heat, like the flaming surface of the sun crackled within. And, with a snapping word of power, Siréne summoned flame. Brilliant violet flames danced to life, forming into a great wall of blessed life giving heat before them.

It was perhaps a small thing, but it was what she could offer.

((OOC: Wall of Fire. We're on the safe side of the wall.))

Ulthok was at first pleased that the placing of the gems started to open a door way to the next level. But to his dismay as the door expanded a harsh unbearable cold rushed in to fill the room. The passage was to a horribly freezing place. Unprepared to travel in such a hostile atmosphere the party was taking harm from the freezing cold.

In nearly a reflex action the Halfling mage grabbed the gems again and pulled them from the key ways. Ulthok could only hope this would close the opening and shut out the cold.

He also hoped others would act quickly to warm the room so perhaps to stave off any more harm from the freezing cold. If nothing happened to close the door they must quickly retreat back to the central room.

As he pulled the gems out he called back, "If the door does not close flee back up the passage."

Valene stood near the rear of the group the cold air sucked the breath from her lungs as the door was opened quickly covering her mouth with the neck of her tunic. valene dropped her pack pulling the bedding roll apart an wrapping it about herself.

"If the door does not close flee back up the passage." ulthok spoke
Valene's teeth chattered as she picked up her pack pulling the blanket tighter around her both for warmth an so it wouldn't impede her movement though it did little against the bone aching chill put forth from the door.

Cor moved to the doorway. If removing the gems was not possible, they could not stay in the room. Removing the gems could trigger some form of trap so he wanted to be ready. Of course removing the gems might simply close the portal but nothing had been that easy so far.

Ulthok advanced forward and placed the gems into the slots. Then, with stones grinding, a stair way opened. Rayne knocked and drew her bow, but no attack came.

What did come was a surge of frigid arctic air. Rayne immediately felt pain and then numbness begin to set in on her fingers and toes. Shuddering, she watched as Ulthok moved to regain the gems from their resting spots. Rayne began to edge back to the door, trying to be back in the warmth. She had not packed for this temperature. She made a mental note to buy some winter clothing next time they had access to a store.

As the party of eight attempted to recover from the initial blast of cold air Ulthok moved to remove the two gems from the fitted openings. With the gems removed the door began to close but then stopped dead, the hinges frozen in place from the cold. As Ulthok moved away the party was again hit for damage by the cold before Sirene cast her spell.

With the Wall of Fire's sudden hot temperature blasting the room, the ice holding the coffin door in place instantly melted. With a loud crashing sound the door slammed back into place, steam and smoke rising from it. With the door closed, almost at once thanks to the Sirene's Wall of Fire the room began to once more warn up to a non lethal level and the party was soon sweating in their armor and clothes. Though safe from the cold for the moment all were still hurt and in need of healing.

(DM OOC: Ok once more you all took damage of 12 points except for Valene who only took 9 as she wrapped herself in a blanket and Alyia and Roan who only took 6 thanks once again to their protection. Ok door downward is closed, room is warming up, you still have damage to deal with, so what next?

Also since the Cowboys play on the next 2 Sunday nights I'll be posting my next posts on Wed the 14th and Wed the 21st. After that we will take a Holiday Hiatus until Sunday Jan 1st or Jan 8th depending on the posts over the holiday.)

Pulling the gems back Ulthok nearly stumbled from the cold affecting his limbs. Sounds of the stone grinding let the mage know that his choice had proven correct, the door was closing. But the fierce cold froze the hinges and the door hang open still letting the cold escape. Preparing to bolt from the room Ulthok turned just in time to see Sirene's spell leap forth with a wall of fire. Quickly it thawed the hinges letting the door slam shut cutting off the terrible cold.

As the room warmed Ulthok scanned the party. He found Peri first, she looked not too worse for the ordeal. Her reptile scale and blood resisted the worst of the damage but she still stood there shivering a bit. Next he sought out Valene. There she stood wrapped in her bedroll, resourceful as ever.

The rest seemed to have fared the same as he, though Roan seemed to have done well against the cold for a human.

"Well we seemed to have found the passage but how can we traverse it?.......... We are not dressed for such a cold,,. If we leave this room to search for warmer clothing we may not find it again,, I suggest we rest and heal here. ,.We wrap ourselves as Valene has but the clerics can also use the spells of endure cold on us to enable us to travel that passage,,. We prepare several so if they dispel l we can recast quickly. With luck we will find the source of the cold and stop it,,,,.So any other ideas?"

(Back Post: To Welcome Kriea back to be Valene as Valene.)

The commotion of the appearance of Valene had calmed and the party had turned in for a needed rest. To Ulthok's pleasant surprise he woke to find Valene nestled in his arms. The fears that he might never see her again melted away as he enjoyed the warmth of her body. From deep in his memory a troubadour's song welled up and he softly sang"

"You and I Again
These Days go by
And I wish that I could slow the whole thing down

Have it all back again
Just One more time
Then again maybe we can't
cause I can't escape this feeling
that we've been this way together
You and I

There You are again
I climbed so high
High enough to finally see your side
Shining in the distance
You were tending your own fire
We were biding our time
Both of us waiting for the moment when our backs would come together
You and I

I see how fierce You are
Never this world would drag us down

How serious You are
Standing on Holy Ground

And so Although I know we are only small
In the time We have here
Maybe We have it all

I see how fierce You are
Never this world would drag us down
How serious You are
Standing on Holy Ground

And so Although I know we are only small
In the time We have here
This time we have it all

You and I again
This time, This time"

The mage knew that their future was not secure, but for this moment in time it was good.

( O.O.C, song by James Taylor - You And I Again)

https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-adk-adk_sbnt&hsimp=yhs-adk_sbnt&hspart=adk&p=James+Taylor+You+And+I+Again#id=1&vid=8469e06ae798e04abbc633ead88ccb42&action=view

As the flames from the spell danced in front of him, Lothor felt a sense of relief as the tomb slammed shut in front of the party, taking its horrific cold with it. He still wasn't a huge fan of magic, but when it was used on his side of things it was certainly useful.

Having heard Ulthok suggest staying in the room to rest, Lothor considered raising an objection. Of all the rooms in this tower, this one with its powerful evil magic emanating from the tombs was the last place he would choose to stay and rest. It was also the only room that had not changed when they returned to it and he doubted it was going to go anywhere. The central crossroads room had proven a safe and useful rest location already and he preferred the idea of going back there. But was it worth another argument? Probably not. Even if he doubted this choice, he trusted the halfling's judgement overall and nothing would be gained by arguing over every detail. He could stay here if he needed to do so.

He pulled out his Axe of Demon's Fire and spoke briefly to the group. "I'd love a little healing when someone gets the chance. While others work on spells, I'll stand watch by the door. Whatever that cold is I still suspect undead of some type in that crypt if that affects choices at all. And while nothing has shown any inclination to come out of the crypts yet, I wouldn't mind someone else keeping an eye on the tombs while I watch the hallway. Plus the salamander is out there still as well, so as many spare eyes as possible would be good. When I get a break from guard duty I'll try to sew my bedrool into a thicker cloak, but I have to be able to swing to be of much use." He then moved to the doorway to take up his post realizing that what he considered "speaking briefly" seemed to have changed a bit. He was in danger of becoming long winded. Maybe that was what became of a person who hung out with mages?

And so the big warrior stood at the doorway trying to look every direction at once while pondering lengthy speeches, frigid undead and stupid blinking salamanders. And the sudden appearances of lost companions - he hadn't quite gotten over that one yet.

The blast of cold that came from the opening hit Cor and chilled him to the bones. He could feel the icy grip freezing his very flesh. Thankfully, the halfling quickly removed the gems and the gate closed. "Well, now that was not expected. Seems we need ta prepare ourselves for a winter expedition. Find what ya can t fashion some warmer clothes. Then we heal, prepare spells and try agin tomorrow."

Peri had hung back a bit with Valene and when the cold blast engulfed the room she tried to hide behind the cleric. Dropping to the floor she pulled in her wings and began running in circles to warm herself.

"Not fair", she squeaked, "I don't have a winter coat."

As Valene pulled out her blanket and wrapped it around her Peri trundled up and tried to sneak under it's edge.

The cleric set about to heal the party from the cold. Before pulling out his spell book for study Ulthok took his bedroll.
Cutting section from the bottom he doubled it over and cut slots. "Peri, this may not be the best in winter coats but it may help some to keep out the cold." The mage slipped the garment over the little dragon and secured it closed with a bit of rope. The fey creature smiled up at her companion, "It may not be the height of fashion, but for now it will have to do."

Chuckling to himself Ulthok took the remainder of the roll and fashioned a robe for himself. Slipping off his Elven cloak he dawned the new garment, securing it too with a bit of rope and replaced the cloak over the robe.

"There we are matching...sort of.... Let us rest and study. We must prepare to try that again but hopefully the Cleric spells will protect us some from the dreadful cold."

(O.O.C., Assuming that the party healed, rested and studied. Then the Cleric cast Endure on each member as they prepared to try the door again.)

When the party was ready again Ulthok pulled the gems and placed them in the holes.

(Assuming the door opens and nothing different happens.)
(Assuming the Endure spell is working.)

Pulling his Elven cloak close over his bedroll robe Ulthok lead the party into stairwell. Cautiously but rapidly he moved forward, check for traps and triggers. The party needed to locate the source of the cold and do what they could stop it.

The party began to prepare to go back, Rayne went through her gear. She didn't think she had any winter gear to begin with, and unsurprisingly found nothing. Next time they were in a town, she would make sure to buy something. She neatly returned everything that she wouldn't need to rest to her backpack, before laying out her bedroll for a place to relax.

As she began to prepare her spells, she thought back to her training. She recalled the iron vigil. Often, this was used to allow one to be an ascetic and meditate; however, it allowed resistance to environmental threats for a long duration of time. The spell should be able to aid her in this situation. Knowing that monsters based around cold were vulnerable to fire, she decided to pray for an extra flame blast.

With their rest being completed, she cast endure heat/cold as needed. Just in case, she doubled up on her clothing. It wasn't great, but it should be better than nothing. With her blanket, she tried to cover around her upper body and neck without limiting her mobility too much. She followed the party as they assembled outside the door, readying herself for what lay ahead.