Simaal says "be right back" then heads back out of the magic field. A swirling mass of air appears near him then follows him along. He's hoping it won't go poof.

If no one volunteers for chalk-duty, Thyrius does so by grabbing a piece offered by his brother.

The air elemental evaporates as it tries to enter the anti-magic area.   Simaal gives the air a long disappointed look, and then returns to the group. 

Following Xemnez the group slowly makes their way down the hallway, though being stealthy is difficult preceded by a ten foot pole that continues to clunk into the ground and gonk into walls as Xemnez tests for mundane traps.  "Donk".  "scrraaaaape."  "Bonk".  "Gonk."  "Tap tap tap bang".  

After all they've been through...their sudden situation seems somehow comedic. They make their way up the first passage on the left, passing by one, then a second passage...but stopping there.  Xemnez looks left and right.  To the left past a couple of intersections he sees a large chest sitting next to a wall.  Both ways extend off past his darkvision, but promise more of the same....long passages with alcove indents large enough to lay a skeleton body along with numerous containers.  

Thryius, with chalk duty, drags a stick behind him with the chalk. Though the layout of this place is less a maze and more just a honeycomb of passages. 

The air is dry and cool, and the place is quiet. Sand fills the corners and edges of the place.

Mirica glanced at the (way too) obvious treasure chest. "When you said "we are not touching anything" did you mean treasure chests as well? I hope you did. We are still in the field but too many creatures, it seems, can perfectly function here, not to mention traps."

She continued to look for tracks and signs of anything resembling the path. (Survival: 24)

Jezun offers to go toward the front and he tries to keep his eyes peeled for any oddness or sign of a trap.

Perception: 13

"Yup, anything and everything except our goal, afterwards we can fall to any trap and not be as concerned. At least to my mind." Simaal is moving very carefully, watching his steps to ensure he's not even kicking pebbles. He wearily glances down each passage. "This structure reminds me of broken teeth which leads my mind to the tale of the forgotten Warriors of Light walking into the map of a purple worm. Fascinating tale really, but I guess this is not the time for it."

Mirica and Xemnez see the trail continues forward, and so the group ignores the distraction of the chest, probably full of magical treasures, and continues straight down the passage. 

The group continues another several intersections. Much to Simaal's displeasure, there seem to be rubble everywhere, making avoiding the smallest stones a bit of a challenge. Xemnez's pole tapping meanwhile continues to poke and prod at the walls and ground as they go.  After a few intersections, they see another treasure chest emerge out of the darkness directly on their path. The tracks seem to lead here, then turn around and leave again. The chest appears to have no pad lock keeping it locked.  The body laying in the alcove next to the chest appears to be a bit 'newer' than the others. It's wrapped in rotting fabric. Unlike many others, this one has an iron ringlet as a crown. 

You've gone far enough that you can see the end of the passage you're in ahead of you about 55 feet. It ends in a wall, with hallways leading left and right. 

 "No padlock? Too enticing. A touch-based trap, perhaps?" Thyrius asks his companions to take a few steps back and shoots an arrow at the wooden part of the nearest treasure chest.

-> If an attack roll is needed, here it is: Attack: 27 Damage: 6 

"Curiouser and Curiouser." Xemnez quietly mused aloud as he stared down the chest. At Thyrius signal, the younger leonin simply nods, backs away, and takes out his axe in readiness for anything to come of it. If nothing does so however, he chuffs and puts away the axe, but still signals the others to hang back as he walked over to open it at that point... if noone stops him, that is. 

"Here goes the "don't touch" agreement." Mirica was musing the happenings keeping good ten feet away from the chest. She was more concerned about whether to go left or right from their point and continued to watch for the tracks. (Survival: 27 ? )

The group takes a step away from the ancient wooden box. Prepared for any tricks, Thyrius fires an arrow into the side of the chest. "CRACK!", the arrow goes through the old rotten wood well, penetrating through at least a couple of inches.  Nothing else untoward seems to happen. 

Mirica meanwhile confirmed, the tracks led here, then, turn around and head back. Nowhere else in this place has been traversed in quite some time. 

Xemnez chuffs and moves forward, flipping open the lid. Within he sees a bunch of old tokens. Bound bits of hair. Stick figures tied together with string. A dried piece of skin with an old tattoo on it. A small string of teeth. The bits of 'treasure' found in this box seem simultaneously worthless, simple and a bit gross. 

"Strange treasures," Thyrius affirms while collecting his arrow. "Likely part of the ritual that keeps this lich's phylactery going or, at a minimum, proof that those who lie dead here were themselves practitioners or believers in foul necromancy." Aware that he is probably the last one who should be making such statements, Thyrius takes a couple steps back.

Xemnez grumbled at Mirica's commentary, but said nothing initially in favor of studying the various trinkets and fetishes found within the chest... WITHOUT touching them. For now. But either, he find his voices eventually upon straightening out once more. "Though it may sound as an excuse for a more impetuous act, the tracks had stopped here for a moment before doubly back. And I thought mayhaps a clue or key yet lied within the chest." He admits as much. 

Yet as he looked back to the chest, he'd sigh and grumble again. "Regardless, I had been mistaken." He admits, closing the lid and dusting off his hands as much as possible. Afterwards, he intended to carry on to the backwall in the hopes of finding other exit to the catacomb. One perhaps hidden due to their line of sight at the time. Failing that however, the Leonin would let out another frustrated sigh at the proverbial dead-end... before after a moment's more thought, seek to study the back wall for anything out of place. 

Investigation: 12. 

"Necromancy and witchcraft. Disgusting trophies." Mirica looked around in frustration. "The tracks indeed stop here and then go back, as if someone was visiting that rotten chest. Maybe brought that fresher body. Does not help with neither the field nor the phylactery. Left or right now?" She looked at both direction hoping for some sign that could help to decide. (Perception: 30 if needed)

"Perhaps a clue or key lies within the other chest we saw?" Thyrius venture. "We could try the same approach as we tried on this one, assuming Mirica allows us to touch it."

Jezun does his best to keep his eyes and ears peeled for anything coming up behind or flanking them (happy to roll separate or offer advantage to Mirica). He’s being quiet and keeping his presence small.

"Did not know you keep my opinion in such high regard." Mirica was pleasantly surprised. "Of course, if you feel the need, touch anything you want. Maybe digging into these remains will help you somehow?"

Toc stood near the back, his rapier out, as he glanced about furtively.  The others discuss their next options. With Mirica's permission granted though, Thryius makes tracks for the other chest.  The group doubles back, and then finds the passage where they can see the chest and head that way. They pass the first intersection, then the next....but, Mirica's keen ears pick up a sound somewhere in the maze and she calls a sudden halt so she can listen better.

As the group stops moving, the distant, quiet scrapes all about them can suddenly be heard. Nearby, the fabric wrapped bones laying in a shelf move suddenly, sliding itself sideways and knocking over several containers in its alcove as the undead thing slides out and places its feet on the ground.  From the sounds all around, it's clear the entire place is coming alive. From a nearby intersection you see a bony creature come walking, with awkward jerks....around the corner and in your direction.

Initiative! 

Undead G1: 15 G2: 4 G3: 7 G4: 9

Toc: 6

Jezun initiative: 18

How tall are the hallways?

"Fight back towards the entrance, fight them all there." Simaal looks primed to run back using shield as battering ram. As soon as others move towards the exit, Simaal will as well, trying to block anyone coming from the left side where his shield is at. He's using his non-magical shield at this time, as opposed to the non-magical magical shield. Init 9