The group shakes themselves out of their shock, and steels their resolve. They have three days. They stride towards the entrance, ready to face whatever is coming. 

Victor leads the way, head held high. Behind him come Radu, Loramar, and Tali, all on the lookout for danger. Cyan and Silas trail behind, watching the shocked crowd. As you stand in front of the entrance, Victor looks back and makes a declaration the crowd, rousing them from their stupor as they look uncertainly at the yuan-ti.

And together, you all walk into the tomb. 

The flicker of light shining from the top of Tali's staff illuminates the passage, as you fall into a marching order, two people per row. Silas and Tali are first, ready to face whatever comes at them. Next is Radu and Loramar, looking all round. And finally, Silas and Cyan, who have both stayed silent as they march into the deep.

As you walk, you notice the smooth, carved stone of the tunnel, evidence of the fact that this place is the tomb of a respected and wealthy figure who paid for the finest masons in the land. Carvings are etched on the walls, beautiful and intricate stone murals depicting conquests and treaties, all deeds of this so called God-King that the tomb belongs to. The tomb is very drafty, though strangely, the air is not stale, as a breeze blows against your face, coming from deeper within the complex

Eventually, after descending for a few minutes, you come a chamber, entering from the south. The room is square, maybe 30ft on a side. Two passages, one set in the east wall and one in the west wall, stretch out into the darkness, turning beyond the range of your sight. In the northern wall sits a set of opulent golden double doors, each carved with twisting designs.

The center of the room holds something very peculiar: a 10 foot diameter that floats 6 inches above the floor. The orb seems to be made of no substance or matter, instead being composed of inky darkness, which writhes under the surface of a shimmering magical force field that covers the entire orb.

Tali, Radu:

Loramar: 

Victor sees the orb and says 'Well, we definitely don't want to go touching that!' Taking a look around the room he says 'I suggest we head through the golden double doors to the north first since they're the most notable, and we should avoid that dark sphere at all costs on our way past, so walk around it as close to the walls as you can. There seems to be a forcefield of some sort around it that may be containing it, but we can't be sure if it'll break through if we touch it or even get too close.' He then says to the party, particularly the druids 'Do you perhaps have any spells that could summon a small creature like a mouse to scurry under the orb? I want to see if it has any reaction to living creatures moving near it before we go traipsing through.'

"I’d prefer to avoid sending any creature, even a summoned one, into potential danger if we have other options. How about we try to decipher that first?", the genasi says, pointing to the inscription on the floor in front of the orb, "Can anyone read what it says?"

'Hmm, fair enough, suit yourself....oh!' Victor hadn't spotted the engraving until now and says:

If he can read it (He only knows Abyssal as an extra language):

 If he can't read it:

Victor looks at the inscription, and he cannot read it. It looks like gibberish. He realizes he can't read it and starts lying through his teeth

Anyone who got a 17 or higher on their Religion check:

Does anyone touch the orb?

SIlas will listen at both the east and west passages to get his bearings. ((Perception Both or East 28 West of you want separate 30

Loramar stands before the golden doors, examining them closely.  “Cyan, what do you make of the engraved images here?,” he asks.  “A ghostly king connected to two others.  And, how do these three relate to the knight on the back of a dragon(?) here below?”

History check = 16

 Cyan approaches the others at the orb, warily watching the writhing inky darkness. Convinced that at least for now, the stuff of nightmares is safely contained, Cyan draws their eyes from the floating, massless darkness long enough to scan the text before continuing on to meet Loramar at the golden doors.

OOC: Cyan knows Common, Deep Speech, and Quori.

Cyan closely examines the images. While doing so, they speak. "You are a well-read individual. I am confident that you may have come across some tome on the subject during your studies. Enter your mind palace." They say as though everyone has one and can easily access it. "Cross reference this image with the God-King there."

OOC2: Bardic inspiration (1d10) for Loramar, which he can use before the DM announces the outcome, or bank for the next 10 minutes (in game). And/or maybe giving Loramar advantage for helping him think 'gooder'?

“Fi yw’r gwyliwr yn y tywyllwch.” He said as the doors of the dungeon opened, extending his will into nature itself. It was weakened, fragile, but still answered to his call, sending primal energy through the body of the Moon Druid. His eyes flashed emerald as he clenched the right fist and Darkvision was cast.

He looked the face in the sky with apathy, rage searing within his soul. How dared such creature play with the lives of others? To damn innocents by the crimes of those who came before? Ignorant of a challenging life, would never be powerful if not born into power. A thought Radu abandoned as the vanguard crossed the sill. Taking position in the second line he started looking around, constantly seeking anything out of place in the structure – a carving, a gap, a difference in height between stones, a sign of shadow or movement.

The first strange thing he noticed was the air, fresh instead of stale. Then there were the murals but to them he paid no more attention that the necessary to determine no trap existed in them.

“Loramar, do you know the spell to understand written languages?” He asked the wizard pointing to the writing before the black ord. “Ffocws.” Radu tells the man after Cyan’s encouragement, channeling into him primal energy, casting Guidance. 

Notes: Radu casts Darkvision on himself (spell slot marked as used in the sheet) and keeps looking around (using that passive perception 24). He casts Guidance on Loramar and in the spoiler below are the translations from Welsh (used here as Druidic).

Loramar nods and thanks Cyan for their confidence.  He rethinks his studies and any reference that could be suitable, adding 5 to his History check of 16.

Spending enough time to fully consider the depiction on the doors, he responds to Radu.  Loramar walks over to the druid and the inscription before the globe of writhing, inky, darkness, "Radu, I do know that magic.  It will take me some time to perform the ritual to enact it."  He looks about the room for approval, "Also, I will need to touch the inscription to complete the spell.  Perhaps I should determine if there is an enchantment upon the writing prior to touching it.  Also, another ritual."

(( Bardic Inspiration from Cyan applied in above post. ))

Loramar studies the ancient writings, not looking for a translation but rather for any sign of a trap laid upon the writing. Using their skills, they concentrate, trying to Detect Magic inherent within the symbols. With the power of this magic as well as keen eye boosted by his companions, Loramar spots no dangers to the writings and begins to focus their power, as the words jumble around, becoming clearer and clearer

Meanwhile, Silas, still on guard decides to look down the tunnels. He sees nothing and hears nothing. As does Radu, the magic of his spell granting him keen sight through the bleak shadows of the corridors beyond before they twist off deeper into the crypt.

Is Loramar casting Comprehend Languages as a ritual?

(( Sorry.  Detect Magic and then Comprehend Languages as ritual spells. ))

Got it.

Loramar performs their ancient magiks, and gleans much. They realize the text is in a script ancient, the words the tone of the gods. The Celestial script. The inscription reads "Touch and be drawn into another place. Unlock with a key to control the move." Nothing more is there, the message cryptic.

After taking necessary magical precautions, Loramar uses Comprehend Languages to read the script aloud: "Touch and be drawn into another place.  Unlock with a key to control the move."

He looks to the rest of the group, "That seems straightforward enough."

Victor listens to this intently and muses 'Well, I hazard a guess that the inscription is probably saying that if we touch the door, we will be teleported away, and that if we want to control where we teleport, we need a key. If that's the case, then we'll have to choose a new direction: left or right passage?'

Quote from Raccoon_Master >>

Meanwhile, Silas, still on guard decides to look down the tunnels. He sees nothing and hears nothing. As does Radu, the magic of his spell granting him keen sight through the bleak shadows of the corridors beyond before they twist off deeper into the crypt.

Quote from Shiverquill >>

"left or right passage?"

"If both look the same, either passage works for me," Tali'Zorah says, with a thoughtful glance at the walls. "We could map this place as we go—writing down the turns we take, or marking the walls. Just in case it turns out to be a maze."

The druid was rather pleased with the wizard’s response and found no trouble in waiting for the rituals. Twenty minutes, he thought, would hardly make the difference between success and failure. Not to mention that the danger avoided by understanding that writing could earn them far more time and allow them to avoid lethal danger.

“Before we go, Loramar, when you finished casting Detect Magic…” Radu started, familiar with the spell. “What did you feel coming from the orb?”

The Moon Druid suspected that the thing could be, in fact, the key of the golden doors. The way to control teleportation device. But where to? Deeper into the tomb was to vague of a location. Maybe the key will show options. Maybe we can send a familiar to different areas. He shared Tali'Zorah’s distaste for the idea of sacrificing a living creature, even a contracted one, but then and there it would be the best option.

As his eyes darted from the ground to the orb another thought crossed his mind. The whole thing could be a trap. What could be more attractive to those braving a dungeon than a safe shortcut? East or West might be the right question. If anyone asked him he would the later, for no other reason than his predilection for the dusk.  

Quote from Makkiu >>

“Before we go, Loramar, when you finished casting Detect Magic…” Radu started, familiar with the spell. “What did you feel coming from the orb?”

 

(( Was Loramar able to detect magic and/or school of magic radiating from the orb of inky blackness?  He wonders if he has ever seen a blacker black.... ))

Loramar focuses their energy, and finds that the orb radiates conjuration magic, while the golden door itself is not magical at all. Strange. And interesting. Very interesting.

What do you guys do?