SE3 : EP28 - Acererak's Tomb of Horrors Part II

After examining the cathedral they take stock and decide to back track and look at some of passages further back. Moving through crawl way they return to the orb hallway before heading into the other crawl space. The room at its end is filled with chest. They search the room thoroughly for traps. Looking into one of the boxes causes a huge animated skeleton to manifest.   They trade blows until the skeleton is brought down in to a pile of bones. They take a breath and try to be more rigorous in checking for traps. Orwyn identifies a trap mechanism attached to another chest. Ryder sets to work disarming it. Once done it's opened to reveal a crystal box containing a ring. They debate on spending time to identify the ring. Parathas thinking that they have detected all the chests he pops open a golden one. A burst of venomous snakes a thrown forth from it at him. The party jumps to action, Parathas protecting himself with magic missiles. Hone creeps over slicing low to the ground. Soon the swarm is just a nest of gore.   Deciding to the focus on identifying they take a break.   They return the chapel. Using the new found ring of protection they use the altar's mechanism reveals a new passageway. The ring is consumed. They descend a staircase and wind through corridors until arriving at series of rooms with tiger pits. They move slowly disarming the traps as they move. Then the way wraps back a long stretch to the north. At it's end is a thick wood door banded in iron, festooned with a number of locks. Ryder attempts to pick the locks but with now success. Hone throws his shoulder at it, it gives a tiny bit. He and Kellasin begin to carve through the door.   Once the door is broken in the sound of people murmuring in response emanates from the end of the hall. Ryder and Hone start down it and the voices go quiet and the entire floor drops making it into slick ramp. Kellasin flips on his heel and the other two follow suit. Clambering up the deadly slope they barely escape sliding down into a bleaching lava pit.   They return the way they came. Daphix linger behind investigating the pit traps. In the pits is without spikes. Curious he descend in to it finding a painted hatch. It leads to a secret passage. a thick noxious fog linger at it's end. Hone in volunteered to the go in. After opening a door hidden in the fog dispenses it. The room beyond is veiled in webbing. Daphix crawls in after shifting to his giant spider form. Parathas burns away the think layers of spider silk.   A maul is sitting in the now easily traveled room. Beyond that down a set of stairs is a golden couch. A figure sits upon it.   Acererak rises to face the party.