"We seemed to have gotten sucked into a room with nothing but dead bodies everywhere and some skull on the side of a wall with two levers in it. The first lever we pulled made the mouth of the skull suck everything in it including Keshman and Zaldar into it while the rest of us were able to hold on. After several minutes it stopped sucking and then we went and pulled the other lever and we ended up here. We have no idea where the others are they just seemed to wink out of existence, so they are probably dead. So at the moment we are back at the beginning and the only thing standing in our way is that solid stone door that came crashing down shortly after we got into this place. I say we attempt to lift it and get the hell out of here." Mal says.

"If their experiences were like my, they mayu actually be near the entrance to the tombs," Silas explains, "When I was trapped behind the door I had similar experience within with the mouth of the skulls and levers. Divination from afar has not provided the greatest ulitity so we are unable to check. Nonetheless, we should make our way out. No knows how many more traps the lich left,"

Badger seems dubious that Mal's suggestion will work, but then raises one finger and exclaims: Perhaps Sickle can stone-shape the door and create an exit that way!

Sickle nods, and attempts his spell. A moment later he shakes his head, "No, the walls of this place seem to resist that spell. If I had my ring, I could perhaps have an ice structure form and push the stone door down a bit....but...I don't know where it is." 

With being released Grenk asks, "Do you have something to write with?  Thinking we should maybe putting a warning or something on the way saying, if you teleport use this lever."

"If we are able to depart, we can explain the tomb and the mechanics within to the merchant princes in great detail," Silas states before turning to Grank, "The ring was a danger and I like to remain out of danger now. Let us figure out how to get out,"

To Sickle, Badger explains: I think the ring was taken by Acererak. I couldn't find it after the battle. 

To Grenk, he says: What happens here after you leave is scarcely of any consequence. But out of curiosity... which lever did you pull first?

After a few moments of thought, Badger says: I don't know of any other likely exits from this place. Presumably not the way we came in, or it would be too easy to leave after entering. This place was designed to trap explorers here, most likely to claim their souls upon death. The next most likely exit would be at the furthest extremities of the structure, and the only unexplored path I can recall is the one with the pointing skeleton. Would you like to attempt that?

We are so close damn this cursed place to the nine realms!

Mal looks from one friend to another as they speak feeling a pang of guilt but then remembering how the ring took control of Sickle and had him attack his friends, and she fortify's her resolve to find a way to get rid of this ring once and for all. As her hand absently rests on the pocket brushing any frost that might have started to form again.

Mal sighs, "We have no better option, might as well give it a shot."

The group trudges back down four stories of stairs, and finds their way back down into the cog rooms, through the secret crawlway, using the crystal ship to traverse the cosmic storms of doom, down the stairs, through the witch room, across the 'once was lava', through the smokey portal, and into the creepy temple where they can look past the curtain into the hallway with the colored paths and the skeleton. Keshma's absence seems pronounced, her large often verbal presence stood out for the past couple days. The naked warrior guy, less so.  What was his name anyway? Kevlar? Kalvar? Zelvak?  Anyway, you stare down the tunnel.  

"So didn't someone say we needed to drop a bead or something into something?  We haven't really found anywhere to drop anything, might as well try the figuring this skeleton part out.  Grenk will move up and cautiously touch the skeleton.

Grim psychometry 7

Without touching the wall the skeleton is pointing at Mal will check to see if it also a hidden door.

Perception: 12

Grenk dares to walk along the hallway without following one of the paths, to arrive at the skeleton.

He touches the charred skeleton and images of fire, flame, and explosions ring through his mind.

Mal looks at wall.  A poorly concealed hidden door can be seen, it's grooves outlined by some charring. 

"OK, this door has something to do with fire as there is some charring along the edge of its opening. Let me check real quick to see if there is a trap and then let me disable it. I doubt we want to end up like that guy." As she points to the skeleton.

Perception for traps: 13

Disable Traps: 25

Naw, there's no traps.  You're 100% sure.

"I take it from lack of explosions and screams, there is no traps?" Silas questions from behind the curtain. 

"I am absolutely confident I have not detected the trap." Mal says as she opens the door stepping to the side to let the others go first.

This time Badger remains cautiously within the cathedral area, watching through the curtain, until he is certain there is no danger. Mal's trap-finding has been unreliable of late.

Badger also rubs his nose in confusion at Grenk's suggestion about dropping beads. 

OOC: Other than the Beads of Force, the only other reference to anything like a 'bead' I can recall are from looting the hags...

All three also have a dark magical stone on them.  The stones, once identified, can case cure disease once per day each.

One carries a pouch with twelve lustrous grey marbles in them which are magical.  The lustrous grey marbles are for "activating the pillar and dark pool"....whatever that means.

Mal pulls the door open. Through it she sees a dark shallow pool in the center of a room, filled with black liquid. This....this should be the way out. A bead in there, and they should be home free. But...of course this place has to say goodbye, in its own way.  

Grenk, Mal, DC 24 Dex save or 20 cold damage. Save for half.  An explosion of icy cold energy rips through the air around the secret door as it's opened. 

At the same time, a wall of fire erupts around Badger, Sickle, and Silas at the end of the hallway.  DC 24 Dex Save or 13 fire damage. Save for half. 

And then the wall of flame begins advancing towards down the hallway, leaving behind Badger, Silas, and Sickle feeling charred. 

Grenk and Mal step in through the secret door and are safe as the wall of fire moves past them and reaches the end of the hallway, vanishing. Soon enough, the others follow into the room.

A pool of jet-black ooze glistens inside this silent chamber, whose walls are decorated with relief carvings depicting black stars.

Badger DEX save: 18

Badger doesn't even say anything this time, just shakes his head as he passes by Mal and enters the room.

Dex Save: 19

Silas grumbles a bit as he watches it die down and he continues on.