Chapter V: Choices

The party had to choose one of the three tunnel paths in front of them. The North path has a cold breeze coming from it and as Aire previously found out, it gets colder the further you go in. The West path is covered in cob webs. Lastly, the South path looks clear except for a statue on the edge of their visions.   Choosing the South path, they find the statue they saw is of an elf and if positioned towards a second monstrous looking statue of a reptile with 8 legs and spikes. Bink decided to investigate further and Xar decided to go up to the monster statue and put his hand in it's mouth. As he stands in front of statue, it breaks the line of sight between the two and as he reaches his hand towards the mouth, the stone seems to flake away and a living monster underneath attempts to bite his hand. The Elf statue also comes to life and the Elf, rightfully afraid, runs away from the fight to the main room to try to find Galren.   The party quickly dispatches of what they found out to be a basilisk and go to talk to the newly freed elf while bink takes one of the basilisk's scales. His name is Thuridan and he is the one of the King's Guard for Galren who he was just on his way to inform the status of the Siege by Delmoth. He believes the human in the party to be one of Delmoth's and Aire to be from Nushala's army as he has her Bo Staff. When asked what year he thinks it is he says that it's the 5th age, while it is currently the 8th age. Convincing him that they are friendly and to accompany them on the attempt to get out of these tunnels they ask him what the tunnels are and where they lead. He says the tunnels are where Galren conducted the war while the city was under siege. He wipes off dust from raised tiles before each path to reveal symbols for each:   North - Tower West - Crown South - Staff   He says the North led to Galren's residence, his tower. The west lead to the throne room, and the south lead to the underground barracks for the military during the war. Hearing this the party decides to go to the tower, which is now Daxius' and ask him how he didn't know. He says he noticed the basement level felt colder, but he didn't go down there much as that's where he kept his 'pets' and other things he didn't want to deal with and had Rydel take care of them for him. While going down the tunnel it starts to get colder, there are many areas that look like rooms that used to be attached on either side that have collapsed. They eventually find one collapsed room that has an opening large enough to go into the room. They find two large ice spider and quickly dispatch them with the help of Thuridan and Daxius and Shen takes some venom from the cremated corpse. They create a fire in the tunnel, taking advantage of the breeze to push the smoke away from them while they sleep.   While they sleep Shen's teddy bear, Sir Stuffed, he found in Galren's study springs to life and keeps watch over him while he sleeps. When Thuridan is asked about it he says what they know from Galren's journal, he made it to make his daughter feel safer at night. They continue down the tunnel until they come to a larger dug out opening where they see a much larger Ice spider on the ceiling of the room. Xar takes a couple hits, but they make quick work of it. Shen takes the spiders heart and Bink takes what venom he can from the corpse. The cold breeze vanishes and the party pushes through the ticker spider webs that have bones of animals that sound like the ones Daxius describes were in his basement.   Arriving at the end of the tunnel they find the end blocked by wood. Pushing it open they pushed over some shelved and barrels finidng themselves in the basement level filled with more barrels and empty cages that look misshapen. Going up the stairs they see Rydel at the door wielding him rapier telling the party to quiet down. They still hear the alarm bells and just outside the front door to the tower they hear "Daxius, open up!". Shen uses disguise self to make him appear as Daxius while the rest of the group continues up the stairs. Shen opens the door and talks to the guards who are looking for the party consisting of the Lizardman, gnome, human, and elf that were seen going in his tower the previous day. Shen as Daxius puts on a little show trying to convince them that magic is real by casting expeditious retreat on the captain and causing his belt to glow. Frightened by the magic he orders his men to search the tower.   Ordering two men to stay with Daxius, the rest go up searching each door. The captain, moving at speeds much faster than his group and finds Xar who kicks him down the stairs, rolling down all the stairs causes an extreme amount of damage chocking the captain unconscious. The other three continue up until they come to the door that paralyzes and one falls down paralyzed.The last two decide to continue up until they find Xar who has now oiled the stairs. One slipped on the oil and also falls down the stairs being knocked unconscious. The remaining guard that went up takes out his crossbow and demands Xar come down. Xar agrees and pumps over the oil, picks up the guard and throws him down the stairs, however this one did not take enough damage to go unconscious and barely finds the strength to tell the others that the party was there.   The remaining two guards go outside blowing a horn and the party asks Daxius how to get out of the tower. Daxius says the only ways out are the front door, and jumping off the top. However, they could go back through the tunnels they found connected to the tower. They party decides to go back to the tunnels and as they go down, Xar tries to suffocate the paralyzed elf. Rydel seeing this decides to speed up the process and stabs him through the throat with his rapier saying that they have chosen a side. As they pass the front door, the guards run after them and Rydel kills one of them in one blow while the other drops his weapons. Xar knocks the last guard out and Rydel kills him and they move back into the tunnels.   Once back in the tunnels they try to decide whether to go to the throne room or the barracks, however, looking closer at the tunnels they seems familiar to Shen. He realizes he's seen these kinds of tunnels before when they were in the underground area with Galren's chosen. They venture into the tunnel for the barracks and find a dead end after about 20 minutes of walking with a symbol of fire on the wall. Casting a firebolt on the wall, it starts to lift. They start hearing commotion from the other side that sounds like war planning. Once the wall is completely lifted they find an elf in somewhat regal clothing holding a staff and five others confusingly staring at them.   The leader with the staff speaks to them. She says she recognizes them as the party she was told went to help with the heist. She asks how it went and where Bero and Ailmer are. They party says they failed the mission and the other two died. Xar tries to pass off Thuridan as the son of Galren, but when asked his name it is obvious he has no relation. She points her staff at the party not believing they failed in their mission and Daxius' bag with the stone in it begins to shake. Asking for the stone the party says no and are about ready to fight. The party says they need the stone to save the world. Asking the leader who she is they find that she is Selren. She decides to make a deal with the party saying that if they allow her to use the stone tomorrow, she will give it back at the end of the day. Trusting her they allow her to have the stone. She points the staff at Daxius' now open bag and the stone breaks from the crown and lodges into the staff.   She says the recruiter has an audience with Luren in the morning and if things do not end peacefully, then the war begins, but with the stone it will be much easier. Xar asks if they can help and Selren says she would appreciate any help they can give her. The rest for the night and prepare for the coup coming in the morning.