Tsarra sits on the floor laughing after the water drains away. "I do like that room, aye. I needed that. Sorry 'bout yer feathers, Kyle."

She gets up off the floor and shakes the water off herself. 

"How did Kyle become immortal anyway? I 'aven't seen many undead before, but I've heard plenty of sailors tell ghost stories 'bout 'em." 

The intricacies of necromancy were probably far beyond Tsarra's understanding. Sure, she had some magic herself, but she didn't have to work for it. It just came naturally. Probably because her father was a water genasi...or more likely because the father of her father was a powerful water elemental djin known as a Marid. She had a lot of magic in her actually, she just hadn't quite figured out how to tap into it.

That said, her magic could not grant a corpse life. She could make a dead body move by just picking it up and puppeteering it of course, but that wasn't the same as Kyle. Kyle could walk around under his own power and obviously had thoughts of his own. Course she couldn't understand those thoughts like Fenrear could.

She follows Fenrear through the new opening, though she stumbles around in the dark a bit. 

"It sure would be bad to run into 'nother trap!" She laughs, clearly taking this whole situation way too lightly. 

Good question. Fenrear says nodding in appreciation. When Kyle was alive, I ate him. He died and his soul left. I put together other chicken parts to make new body. Use necromancy to call Kyles soul. Kyle comes back and I stick it in new body so it can’t leave. No matter what happens, can’t move soul. Immortal. Not indestructible though. Sometimes I have to fix his body with more chicken parts. Lots of chickens, no problems yes?

Almost on queue, Kyles beak falls off. Fenrear picks it up and sticks it back on, adding a small chant for good measure. No problems. Realizing he has put the beak on upside down, he makes another quick adjustment until Kyle seems satisfied.

Ok, here is room. The enter a large bedroom with stone walls and torches that are magically burning with no heat, but provide light to the room. The room contains a canopy bed, a chest, a globe, a desk with papers, a nightstand, a cabinet as well as other sundry items scattered about the room.

The most disconcerting item was a dark black box with holes on either side. It seemed out of place some how. 

The amulet is close. I can feel it! Says Peter. Find it!

"Aye, that is incredible. I wish I could just slap my body parts back on. Sea stars can do that can't they? I know I've pulled plenty of their little legs off and they just keep wrigglin' and sometimes make more sea stars."

Tsarra looks about the room with curious interested. Her eyes then lock on the chest and a big grin spreads across her face. Nothing made a pirate happier than a good ol' heavy chest all locked up and sitting pretty in a spooky room protected by traps. She shuffles over excitedly to the chest and she pulls it away from the wall.

"Locked boxes always hide the greatest treasures. Now let's see what we're workin' with 'ere." She crouches down and inspects the lock. Tsk...she didn't have any lock picks on her. She gets up and scours the room for anything she can use to pry open the lock. The idea to use one of Kyle's bones did cross her mind, but she didn't know how to make it sound like a good idea to the gnoll. 

"Hey, what does this bauble yer lookin' for even look like? Like that things looks pretty weird." She asks, pointing at the box with holes. 

Fenrear thought carefully about how much he should share. It wasn’t great that he had a ghost in his head. The talking undead chicken probably wasn’t the best either. But they had just met so keeping it close to the fest was the best move.

Looking for a gold amulet with a blue stone in the center. Should be obvious when we see it. 

Fenrear looks at the holes in the box. He can’t see anything in the holes.

Fenrear, it’s here. I can hear it callling. It must be in the box.

What’s up with you and this amulet. What’s it supposed to do anyway?

I told you. It is ancient relic. If you want specifics, it holds a soul.

It holds a what now? There are too many things in my head already. I don’t need anymore.

Fear not. It is stuck in the amulet BUT it houses one of the most powerful Necromancers of all time. If we do this right, he may be able to fix our situation once and for all.

If he’s so great, how did he get stuck in an amulet?

How did I get stuck in a Gnoll. Stuff happens. Now put your hands in the box.

What happens….

In the box!

Fenrear looks at the box, sighs, and jams his hands in. Something is cold inside. There is a click in a panel in the floor. From the panel in the floor, a pair of yellow eyes stare at them. Fenrear’s hands are stuck fast.

"Gotcha." Tsarra replies simply.

The advantage of searching for something with someone who is focused on treasure and not asking questions is that...well...they don't ask questions. Tsarra riffles through the desk for something to pick the lock with. Instead, she finds some interesting illustrations of a fairly busty orc woman. Tsarra gets a contemplative look on her face before folding the pieces of paper and tucking them away for later. 

Meanwhile, the floor boards shift and lift as a pair of golden eyes peer out at Fenrear. Climbing out from the hole is a scaled creature with a broad horned head. It steps up onto the floor revealing its muscular reptilian body and long lashing tail. Its nostril flares and it runs its tongue across the rows of sharp teeth lining its heavy-set jaws. A Baloth, though usually small in size and quite thin. Its growth was likely stunted by a lack of food. It eyes the gnoll and undead chicken hungrily. 

"Aha!" Tsarra exclaims. "Found a key!"

The triton holds up a brass key to show Fenrear only to see the looming lizard creature. "Oh. Uh, ye good mate?"

Swiftly, the Baloth leaps at Fenrear, attempting to rend his flesh from his bone with its claws. 

"That's a no!" Tsarra dives behind the desk as a fight breaks out. 

His hands still stuck in the box, Fenrear looks at the tiniest baloth that he had ever seen. Usually beat hulking beasts that can swallow a person whole, seeing it in miniature was amusing until it jumped at his face. As it came, Kyle dove out of the way.
Dang it Kyle! Fenrear snapped.  Fenrear swings the box around and smacks it in the face. The baloth drops to the floor momentarily dazed at the blow.

Fenrear runs over and squeezes himself behind the desk to create a barrier between him and the creature. The creature snaps at him but it has difficulty getting a good angle. Fenrear smashes the box against the desk in an attempt to break it but it stays intact.

I am going to turn you into furniture myself when I free my hands beast! The baloth seems thoroughly unimpressed. Kyle hops up on the desk and starts pecking at the box. Really? Now you are trying to be helpful?

He turns to the fish maiden. Don’t suppose you might want to GET ME OUT IF THIS! The baloth continued to growl in frustration.

"Uh, well, funny story. I 'ave no idea 'ow ta get that thin' off ye. I'll try ta distract it for ye." She shrugs and crawls out from behind the desk.

The baloth snaps its attention to the easier prey and leaps over to snap at her ankles. 

"Ack! No! Back ye overgrown iguana!" She boots it in the snout and hops up onto her feet.

It hisses as it sprints off across the room in pursuit of the fish woman who takes a diving leap across the bed. Tsarra grabs a pillow on the way by then waits for the baloth to land on the mattress before she brings it up over her head and smacks it in the head. The baloth snarls and tears through the pillow. Feather burst out in a flurry all around the baloth which starts to snort and sneeze from the downy cloud.

Using that momentary distraction, the fish then grabs the edges of the blankets and dives back over the bed, folding the flailing creature in the fabric. She runs back over and looks around for something Fenrear can use to crack open the box when the sound of the baloth struggling against the blanket turns into tearing noises. 

"Ah, damn." She comments before gabbing the globe.

She throws it at the baloth's open jaws as it emerges from the hole in the blanket ripped by its claws. The baloth yelps in surprise as the globe shatters against its skull, scattering broken shards across the floor. 

Fenrear watches as pillow feathers scatter across the room. He tries not to show his frustration as the baloth takes the bedding apart. He starts snacking the box against the wall as hard as he can, to no avail. What in the world is this thing made of anyway? He whines.

Bluuurk bak bagak bak. 

That is not helpful Kyle! Keep looking, there has to be a key or a latch or something that will open this box! The baloth looks at him and Tsarra hungrily after tearing through a blanket. Then a globe smashes it in the head, spreading globe bits all over the floor. Fenrear did not expect that. The baloth seemed stunned at the moment, this may be his only chance. Fenrear rushes up to the baloth and jams the box into its mouth. It thrashes a bit and then bites the box into splinters. Fenrear mange’s to get his hands out just in time.

Ha ha! If you want something done right…

Fenrear pulls out his knives and jumps on the baloth’s back. The takes the knife and slits it’s throat from behind. The baloth thrashes around and finally crashes to the floor. Among the pieces, lay a golden amulet with a large red gem in the center.

“Phew. That could’ve ended badly. Yer real strong!” Tsarra comments, seemingly unbothered by the fact that she did little to help the situation. "That big ol' iguana wasn't so scary. Looks like it dropped yer amulet too! Lucky if ye ask me."

She strides over to the locked chest and starts fiddling with the key she found in the lock.

"Now ta see what else is hidin' in 'ere."

It clicks open and she lifts up the lid without hesitation. Her excitement quickly turns to confusion and irritation at what she uncovers. The chest is filled with nothing but what looks like strips of fabric. Her shoulders slump and she lets out an audible groan of frustration and disappointment. 

“Ye got ta be kiddin’ me. Why lock up a buncha scraps?”

She reaches forward to try and see if there was something hidden under the fabric when it springs to life. The strips lash out around her, binding her arms and looping around her head before they draw taught. Anchored to the bottom of the chest, the wrappings yank her into the large chest which slams shut on her one leg.

“MMMRPHMMMRRPHRRRRNNN!” 

The triton flails like a fish caught in a net against the animated fabric as the chest keeps trying to trap her inside of itself. Her leg kicks in a futile but comical effort to damage the chest. 

Fenrear looks incredulously at the box as Tsarra tries to free herself.

The amulet is right there, grab it you fool! Shouts Peter into Fenrear’s mind. Yeah yeah, got the amulet yes? Fenrear picks up the amulet and puts it in a free pouch. He walks over to the chest as Tsarra continues to struggle free. This could not have worked out any better. We can be rid of this pain once and for all, Let’s get going. Fenrear made no motions to leave, only stared at the box and the flopping leg. Snap out of it! Peter snarled.

Tsarra, no matter how useless she was, was still in his party. There was something in Fenrear’s DNA that balked at the idea of abandoning someone in the group. Fish lady, hold on. With his hands now free, Fenrear could enlist some help. Pulling deep into his magic, noises could be heard in the distance. The noises were drawing closer.

Bwakka bak bak bak.

Yes Kyle, they come.

Soon, a Giant skeletal creature enters the room. Open the box. Fenrear commands it. The undead hulk rips the box lid open, breaking the hinges. Fenrear takes knives and starts cutting the strips at the base slowly settling her free. As strips tried to attack Fenrear as well, the undead hulk slashed at them with his sword. Come fish lady, time to leave.

Tsarra tumbles back, free from the animated bindings. She pants and looks around wide-eyed at Fenrear and the undead hulk.

"Oooooh that's a dead thing. That's a dead thing that is not dead. It's very not dead."

She scoots away from the undead hulk to put Fenrear between herself and it. Few things phased the triton, undead were part of that short list. She didn't really understand how necromancy worked and had only heard stories from salty sea dogs about ghost ships and zombie crews. Few of the tales ended well for those who encountered such blasphemous beings. 

"Is that another one of yer friends?" The triton asks nervously.

Fenrear had saved her, kept her safe, and has overall beena  nice fella. She really didn't want to think poorly of him. Heck, she'd be a hypocrite if she judged the gnoll for his foul practice while she ran around raiding and pillaging as a pirate. 

"Ye know what, nevermind, I don't wanna know. Let's get the 'ell out of 'ere."

Scrambling up, she quickly heads back the way they came, eager to leave the trapped tomb far behind. 

"Ye know, this was kinda fun. Weird, but fun. Where are ye headed off ta next? After ye help me ta the coast, I mean."

Fenrear turned the bauble over in his clawed hand as he pondered the question. I go where I go. No directions just destinations, yes? But no worries fish lady. Now that I have bauble, I get you back to the waters, yes? Fenrear waved the group along as they started back the way they came. Sure, it was a little tricky picking it up but it still seemed a bit easy. A bit too easy. Perhaps living such a troubled life had made him skeptical. He hadn’t always been that way. When did it change?

Bwwaak bakbagak!

Fenrear came out of his thoughts. They were almost back at the entrance but something was wrong. The passage had shut behind them and they didn’t see anything or anyone that could have closed it. Several of the walls were broken so they could still get out. However this change was unexpected and out Fenrear on edge. He picked up Kyle and tossed him over the wall. What do you see? He called to the chicken.

Baka Baka bak bak. 

Well how many of them?

Ba ba.

Really? Well that’s unfortunate. Kyle flapped and managed to get himself up to the top of the wall. 

Kyle says there’s Vorrapedes on the other side. Must have tripped the trap. How you like giant bugs?

"No directions, just destinations?"

That went way over the triton's head. How could someone get somewhere without a heading? That's not how navigation worked. You needed a heading to get anywhere intentionally. Does that mean this gnoll just wandered aimlessly? He'd die out on the open seas doing that. 

She follows him back to the entrance. Was the door always closed? They had almost drowned that one time. Well, the gnoll almost drowned. She could breathe water so she would have been fine. At least until she starved to death. But that wasn't drowning, that was starving. 

"Bugs? Giant bugs? Like land crabs? I can probably handle myself against some silly land crabs." She says with some unbridled confidence and putting both hands on her hips. 

Tsarra has no concept of terrestrial insects or what 'giant' actually means in this case. Most bugs she has run into thus far have been significantly smaller than anything in the ocean. There were plenty of 'giant' creatures under the waves from crabs to squids. Some whales and other creatures got large enough to swallow ships whole. Nothing on land she had seen thus far came even close to the size of those marine behemoths.

Fenrear thought for a moment the best way to explain it. No directions, just destinations is a Gnoll expression. It means like there is no place you can go to be happy. You must be happy where you are and where you go, your destination. Fenrear didn’t feel like he was being clear. Like you have happiness and you take it with you, it not be found if you go to other place. Not in any direction. It makes more sense in Gnollish. I have nowhere to go but I am somewhere, yes?

Fenrear knew another expression about chewing on fish heads but thought better about sharing it considering the company. The more pressing question was what they were going to do about the Vorrapedes. They were on the other side of the wall for now, which was a good thing. But who knows how long they would stay there. For all he knew, the nest was close by.

Vorrapedes is big bug, like Fenrear holds out his arms as long as he can five or 6 of these long. He still had the undead hulk out. It might be able to deal with them, but it would be risky opening the door. 

Can you climb on top of wall, like Kyle? Maybe we can walk over broken roofs yes?

"Huh, that sounds like some deep profound shit. I don't get it, but if it makes ye happy then that's all that matters, aye?"

She tries to imagine what these vorrapedes look like. The size she could comprehend. They were actually pretty damn big for land crabs! That was a big problem. 

"Climbin'? Aye, I got nails like fish hooks."

Looking up at the wall where Kyle had been tossed to scout, she judges the height and nods. It was doable. For sure. She could do it. No problem.

She backs up a little and psyches herself up. Taking a running start, she sprints up to the wall and attempts to parkour run up the wall.

She makes it!

Kinda.

It's not very graceful and she smacks her jaw on the edge of the wall. Luckily she avoids biting her tongue clean off. She does however get a hold on something and is able to pull herself up.

Glancing down at Fenrear and the undead hulk, she gives a thumbs up. Mission accomplished.