It was indeed a precarious situation to be in, a deadly trap designed by the builders of this tomb to ensure that only the worthy managed to navigate it. The group had been doing well up until this point, managing to avoid the traps and dangers of the previous rooms. This room however was proving to be a struggle for them, and with impending doom right around the corner, it was hard to see a way out. As expected, the mood of the trio dropped, trying hard to figure things out.

Cyran quickly ran through different scenarios, trying to find a way to save their allies. It was a crazy idea, one that most people would have shrugged off, but when death stared you in the eyes, crazy seemed like the best choice. Without hesitation Cyran allowed their bat like wings to sprout forth from their back, not hindered by the magic sapping gas that was filling up the room, and began to slice at the ground with their ice knife. The goo was thick and extremely sticky, even attaching itself to the blade of the weapon as they tried to slice through it.

While the knife failed at cutting through the goo, the ice enchantment on the weapon was taking affect, as the edges of the goo Cyran was stuck in began to freeze, solidifying and growing weak. Cyran could feel their feet beginning to loosen as the now solid, frozen goo began to wiggle, becoming detached from the still liquid goo around it. Their feet would still be covered, but now loose, they were able to use the strength of their wings to push upwards, hovering off of the ground and shattering the edges of the frozen goo.

Cyran was free and in the air.

But the ceiling was still pressing downwards, quickly cutting off space in the air and forcing Cyran to act fast. They hovered towards the key hole marked with the U, using their wings to glide through the air, placing the key into the hole and quickly turning it, only to hear a click. A few more seconds of stone grinding against stone filled the chamber before suddenly growing silent. The group would be able to see that the ceiling had stopped moving, the goo had reverted back to solid stone and they were now safe.

Another sound began to fill the chamber, more grinding stone, but not from the ceiling. The floor lightly jolted for a second, as if something heavy had fallen or something under the ground was moving. It only lasted for a brief second before silence once again filled the chamber. Cyran, Cirice and Gerhart were now free to move around the chamber and were safe, for the time being. Not wanting to spend any more time in this forsaken place, they all moved through the chamber, headed towards the center room marked with an eye.

Where there was once an empty room filled with sand, now sat a staircase that descended into the ground. Sand slowly flowed down the now exposed hole, revealing a passageway under the sand that led further and deeper into the dungeon. This passage way was pitch black and filled with sand, but was now navigable.

---

Notes:
A passageway in the floor has been opened up in the center room that leads to the next chamber.

- Magic nullification: 2/4 post duration
- Poison: 2/2 post duration (All three of you receive one wound)
- Sticky floor: Over
- Lowering Ceiling: Over


-Cirice- 1 Wound, one blind eye
-Cyran- 1 Wound, one blind eye
-Gerhart- 1 Wound, Chest and leg hit preventions used up

"Hey, hey, it's fine, we will make it, I am sure of that." He smiles down at Cirice. He keeps Cyran in the corner of his eyes, but focuses on helping get the moon elf moving again. Gently he will get his arms underneath her and lift her from the ground as the sticky residue on the floor seems to subside. Once more, Gerhart is very careful with his hand placement as he carries her in his arms.



Admittedly there are a few moments he figures they are done for as well, but he wasn't going to let Cirice spend those last few moments feeling alone. He would try and do what he did best, help people forget the fear by just being relentlessly cheerful. He'd been doing it for himself and the other kids since he was 6, he'd known that feeling of absolute rock bottom.



He lets out a sigh still holding that wide and boyish smile as the sounds seem to change and he sees a way forward opening up.



"See? The three of us have each other covered. We will make it out of here." Gerhart gives a litle nod towards Cyran as he starts moving towards the passage way. "I'm gonna need you to be my eyes all right Rice?"

Cirice swallows her terror and lets Gerhart scoop her up, folding herself against his chest and sniffling slightly. She wipes her eyes and nods. "O-okay... Thanks Gerhart."

She gives him a faint smile, still shaken by the whole scenario and being cut off from her connection to her goddess. Cyran saved them, just like he said he would. He's reliable and clever and Gerhart is so strong and caring... She can't be weak and drag them down. She closes her good eye tight and keeps a look ahead with just her ruined eye, inspecting the stairs. If there's anything to see she'll alert Gerhart and Cyran immediately. 

"I'm sorry for panicking... I'll try to be more brave."

They’d made it.

Somehow, Cyran’s frantic plan had worked, removing the goop from the ground and halting the ceiling before it could squash them. Cyran still felt a little bit sluggish and hurt- the effects of the poison, no doubt, but they were alive.

He immediately dropped to the ground, running up to Cirice and Gerhart, where Gerhart had scooped Cirice up, determined to carry her for the time being.

“Oh, thank the gods you’re okay.” Cyran gasped as he finally made his way back to the others, worry evident in his one visible eye, which was already misting up with unshed tears. “I could never have forgiven myself if I was the reason you both got hurt…”

He trailed off, unable to bring himself to speak anymore. Gerhart seemed to be putting on a cheerful face for Cirice’s sake, but it was clear that last trap had taken a lot out of them. At least Cirice was calming down a bit, and they were all able to catch their breaths. But despite this small victory, there was still much further to go ahead of them if they wanted to get out here.

Cyran forced himself to calm down once more. While they still couldn’t seem to shake off the effects of the poison that had blocked their magic, and Gerhart was protecting Cirice, that left Cyran to be the one to watch over them. While he still used magic, he was not as impacted by its loss. “You have nothing to apologize for, sweetheart.” Cyran said in response to Cirice, who still looked a bit sheepish. “You’ve been incredibly brave so far. But let me take point now, okay?” He still had his two daggers, and he could see from his blinded eye well enough. Not to mention the spirit still hovering behind him that would protect him if anything jumped out at them.

As the trio moved forward, Cyran went ahead first, clicking his tongue to search ahead for anything that might be lying in wait.^[1] If he sensed any people, he would stop, and alert the others as they progressed down the stairs and through the tunnel.

---

1. Bat Wings (echolocation)

The team had recovered, regrouping from the last room and the set of traps that attempted to hinder their advance. Cyran, using quick thinking and a bit of luck, managed to free themselves and stop the ceiling from crushing the entire group. But now that the three were safe, another passage lay before them, a tunnel under the sand. After taking a second to collect themselves, Cyran took point, leading Gerhart ,who was now carrying Cirice, down the few stone steps and into the dark tunnel. They moved slowly, the entire group keeping a look out in case further traps lay in wait for them. Fortunately the tunnel itself was safe, as they were able to make the journey without interruption.

Now nearing the end of the tunnel, the three would be able to see a dimly lit room at the end of the passage, and as they came to the door way, stopping before entering the room, the entire scene would unfold before them. The room was large and illuminated by four small red orbs imbedded into the ceiling, with a stone walkway stretching from their door, across the room and ending at another doorway. On either side of this walkway were pools of ankle deep water, with two small steps on each side leading down into the pool. Jutting up from the water, on either side of the bridge, were five stone statues, all depicting great Zeinavian warriors from a time past.

What would stick out the most however was the dark violet, scaly creature coiled up in the middle of the walk way, as if sleeping. It was hard to tell exactly what this was or what it was doing, but some features were obvious. A large purple snake body coiled around itself, much like a normal snake would. Its top half however looked human, at least what was left of one. Mummy wrappings hung off of the boney, aged human portion of the creature, with a set of six smaller, normal snakes where the creatures hair should be. Cyran would instantly halt the group before entering the room, noticing the creature and alerting the team to its presence.

---

Notes:

Room Map

SPOILER: Click to show

Creature

SPOILER: Click to show

- Magic nullification: 3/4 post duration

-Cirice- 1 Wound, one blind eye
-Cyran- 1 Wound, one blind eye
-Gerhart- 1 Wound, Chest and leg hit preventions used up

When Cyran starts apologizing and trailing off as well, Gerhart knows it’s time to do something to stop this derailment. He reaches a hand over to the back of Cyran’s head and pulls the elf towards himself and Cirice. The young adventurer gently knocks their heads together in a three way headbutt, not enough to hurt or sting but just enough to jolt them back to reality and focus back in on Gerharts big dumb grin. He had used the move enough amongst his adoptive siblings, whenever someone was crying or inconsolable because of their situation Gerhart would do something like that to hard shift their focus elsewhere. “I told you both I’ll make sure we all get outta here, so trust me all right?”

He grins, finally setting Cirice down and giving her hand a gentle squeeze and Cyran a pat on the shoulder before they finished their trip down the tunnel. Gerhart looked towards the beast ahead of them with a little smirk, stepping ahead of the pair to be ready to protect them again. He looks back to them, keeping his voice low and soft. “Do you guys think this snake is as tough as the other one?” 

Gerhart’s attempts at lightening the mood did little to lessen Cyran’s worries, but the fact that the young fighter was trying so hard to keep everyone together forced him to quit wallowing in his own self-pity. They had to focus their efforts on making it to the end of this dungeon alive. And so Cyran took the lead down the hall, only stopping the group right at the edge of the room that the tunnel opened up into when he sensed a presence. It was lucky he stopped them when he did- although the animal was asleep, he had a feeling if they’d barged right in, they would have woken the snake up.

Once more, the cavernous room they’d come upon was dimly lit, only by four red lights similar to the ones that they’d seen before. Cyran wished he had access to his magic once more, so he could see what happened when he put the lights out. But since the poison was still making its way through his system, he only had access to his daggers for the time being.

Gerhart cracked a joke as they figured out what their next course of action would be, idly wondering if this snake would be as strong as the other one. His musing did force Cyran to think about that snake, and the encounters they’d had in this dungeon so far. “The last snake seemed to be blind, and everything in this tomb has to do with sight. If I had to wager a guess, I’d say this snake is the opposite- whether it navigates by sight, or uses that sight as a weapon, it doesn’t matter. If it comes to blows, our best bet might be to blind it before it could hurt us.”

It was unfortunate that in its current position, its face was protected. If it hadn’t been, then Cyran would have been able to fly up and render it blind before it could attack them. Cirice was stealthy enough, but Gerhart wouldn’t be able to sneak by the sleeping creature as easily, and they’d have a hell of a time getting around it on this narrow path. Which meant combat might be their only option. Just to take stock of all their options, Cyran would close his remaining eye to see if anything stood out to him with his blind eye. Once he’d determined whether the blindness would reveal anything to him, Cyran opened his eyes and faced the others.

“I have an idea.” He whispered. “I don’t think we’ll get out of this without a fight, so we should strike on our own terms. I’ll fly to the other side and we’ll set up a pincer attack. You strike it from the front, and I’ll hit it from behind. But be careful.” They were all still injured, and Gerhart’s armor was dented… they’d have to be quick.

Being as silent and slow as he could, Cyran flew overhead to land on the other side of the snake, a few feet away- just far enough to hopefully refrain from waking it up, but close enough that he could strike at its back if it woke up from the sudden intruder with both Spell Slicer and Cold Steel.^[1,2,3]

But if the snake remained asleep, Cyran would simply wait for the right moment to strike.

---

If the snake wakes up:
1. Back Stab
2. Magic Blocker Enchantment
3. Ice Rune

Cirice looks at Gerhart and Cyran after the headbutt, fear still in her eyes but perhaps lessened. “I trust you. I trust both of you. I just… I can’t do anything except magic. I don’t want to hinder you. I’ll stay back here until I can heal you.” She returns the hand squeeze with Gerhart. “Be careful. I love you guys, you're not allowed to die.” She looks at Cyran “As soon as I can I’ll summon Ur with you as a distraction, then you won’t be alone back there.” She hides behind the doorway of the tunnel and peeks around the corner with her eyes closed so she can see anything that happens with the weird magic sight.

In the face of a new enemy, the trio went about setting up their next plan. Gerhart put himself between the serpent like creature and Cirice, acting as a guard on the narrow pathway, as Cyran lifted up into the air, utilizing their wings that had saved them many times before. As he sailed over the creature, the elven man scanned the room, both with his good and bad eye, trying to gather any further information. Although it had seemed to work many different times in previous chambers, nothing was appearing off or out of place to Cyran, the damaged eye unable to see anything at all. Now fully behind the unknown entity, Cyran readied themselves, flanking the creature and putting ii in between him and Gerhart. It was a sound strategy, and the knife wielder had a back up plan for if the thing moved.

Which it did.

Slow at first, the creature began to uncoil, its dark purple scaly tail unwrapped itself, revealing an ancient, decayed humanoid torso. Scales transitioned into rotten flesh as a mummies face came into view, resting beneath a tangle of snakes where its hair should have been. Low hissing could be heard as the beast stirred, the group unsure of what exactly triggered the foe, Cyran however was not going to wait around to see what it was, and lurched forward, attempting to strike down into the fleshy part of the creatures back. In a blur, the serpent went from a slow uncoil to a lightning fast jolt, reacting the the dagger strike.

Cyran's attack had landed, feeling the weight of the blade sink into the snake, and while a wound had been made, one with thick, spoiled blood, the creature made no obvious reactions to being injured. What the elf was instead met with was a large, heavy snake now on them, attempting to coil around their body. It was quick, a flash left, and flash right, the beast was trying to spiral around and bind them. Gerhart and Cirice could see the whole scene play out, and with only a few seconds having past, the realization of the situation was now setting in, their ally was about to be constricted.

---

Notes:

- Magic nullification: 4/4 post duration (Final rotation)

-Cirice- 1 Wound, one blind eye
-Cyran- 1 Wound, one blind eye
-Gerhart- 1 Wound, Chest and leg hit preventions used up

Even though Cyran was quiet, the snake still stirred as he landed on the other side of the creature- luckily, he was prepared for that, and managed to get a devastating strike on the creature, spilling blackened blood on the ground. What he wasn’t anticipating was the snake ignore the blow as it meant nothing, before darting out and attempting to construct around Cyran, coiling tighter around him as it threatened to crush him.

Cyran started to panic, rapidly assessing his options- how was he going to escape from this one without his magic? He only had his daggers with him… that was when he remembered he had more weapons in his arsenal than just Spell Slicer and Cold Steel. It was a risk, but Cyran had been taking quite a few of those in the dungeon as of late. Rather than spending his last few moments escaping, Cyran would pull out Mercy’s Lament- the dagger of torment- and attempt to stab it right into any part of the snake he could find purchase.^[1] He might have been trapped by the snake, but that also meant that the monster was at his mercy.

If he managed to get a blow, the snake would begin to experience horrible visions of pain and death, and that would hopefully give Cyran enough time to launch himself out and throw himself to the ground, rolling away from the snake as he tried to put as much distance between himself and the monster as he could manage.

---

1. Dagger of Torment

"Cyran!" Cirice screams from the doorway. She's still without her magic, completely powerless and defenseless, but that doesn't mean she shouldn't try something. She looks around for a rock or something, anything, that she could throw at the snake creature wrapping itself around her beloved friend. The water! What if the water is the key? It would be better than nothing! If nothing else maybe she could get a piece of statue to clobber the snake with. Digging in her bag she grabs a random plate from her camping supplies and runs forward up the path, dragging the plate along the shallow water and scooping a small splash of water towards the creature trying to drench it. Surely there is a reason the creature wasn't in the water itself, maybe?

Gerhart was going to have to hurt Cyran for worrying Cirice by almost getting snatched. Almost getting snatched was supposed to be his job anyways. He quickly draws his sword and starts to sprint across the walkway. If nothing else he could do his usual and annoy the Gorgon.

”I hope you enjoyed your second shot at life, cause you’re about to get buried again!” There we go, much better insult this time as he issues his Challenging Mark.

He lashes out with both blades at the wider spots of the long and snake like body. He wanted to get a good sized wound into it to really bring its anger into focus on him.






(using Rushing Charge then Challenging Mark)

The serpent like creature continued its spiral around Cyran, attempting to fully constrict them as they retaliated, a last ditch attempt at fending it off. They plunged a newly drawn dagger into the scaly flesh of their foe, and wile the blade once again found purchase, sinking into its prey, it appeared to have no immediate effect. The snake had finished its coil, now completely around Cyran, and squeezing tightly. Luckily for the elven man, their spirit guardian had still been up, coating their body like a suit of ethereal armor as the snake tightened its grip, shattering the defensive spirit, but protecting its owner.

Gerhart and Cirice had already acted, closing in on the tightening snake while trying to protect their ally. Cirice started by using a plate to skim the surface of the water, flinging it at the snake, trying to see if the water had any effects. It splashed across the side of the creatures snake filled head as it turned to face Gerhart, his challenge taking affect. Unfortunately the water did nothing, proving to the group that it indeed was safe water.

However the snake was now looking directly at Gerhart who was now in its face, duel wielding attacks in a furious motion. Unfortunately for the brave man who had just saved his ally, he had successfully gained the creatures attention. Bright snake like eyes glowed before a feint aura of light blasted forth, completely hitting Gerhart, but missing Cirice who was behind him and protected from its gaze. Gerhart would watch his vision go black as his entire body turned to stone, solidifying there on the bridge and becoming a stone statue of himself.

Completely distracted by the challenge, the snakes tail began to loosen up on Cyran, freeing them as the monster began to coil around Gerhart instead.

---

Notes:
- Spells can be used now
- Cyran loses a spirit gurdian
- Gerhart is stone for their next post. He takes no damage, deals no damage and can not do anything. Can not be targeted or affected by positive or negative effects. (Does not need to post this next rotation)
- Turning to stone does not inflict a wound

-Cirice- 1 Wound, one blind eye
-Cyran- 1 Wound, one blind eye
-Gerhart- 1 Wound, Chest and leg hit preventions used up

Seeing Gerhart become stone in front of her, protecting her, breaks something in Cirice.

The runes on her arms flare to bright violet light and from the shadows below her Ur pounces onto the head of the creature¹, biting and scratching at its face and the hair-snakes, trying to gouge out its eyes. As Ur distracts the creature Cirice hides uselessly behind Gerhart, hugging his stony form but sends a cast of major healing to Cyran from there. She shuts her eyes and screams, rage and fury and fear mixed into a primal shout. "GERHARRRRRT!"

The dagger didn’t work, and despite Cyran’s best efforts, he couldn’t manage to get himself out of the snake’s grasp in time before it coiled around him in an attempt to crush him. Only, no bone-crushing pain accompanied it as Cyran expected, as the spirit hovering behind him protected him from being fully crushed, silent laughter echoing in his ears the only indication Cyran had that she’d existed at all as her form disappeared, too weak to keep up her physical form but strong enough that she could intervene once more should the need arise. Instead, Cyran was just left… tied up by the snake in a firm grip, almost like it was giving him a hug.

… This was awkward.

Before he could even think to figure out how he was going to get out of this, Gerhart rushed forward, roaring another challenge that got the monster’s attention. Just before he could strike, the snake turned its gaze upon him, and in a burst of pale light, Gerhart had been completely frozen, turned to stone before their very eyes. Intrigued by the easier prey, the snake relinquished its grip on Cyran in favor of the statue still frozen mid-attack, dropping Cyran to the ground.

That was the moment Cirice reached her breaking point. Cyran’s remaining eye widened, unable to stop her from sending Ur forward as a distraction while she retreated and hid with a guttural scream. The sight of her trying so desperately to protect her friend to the point that her sanity was beginning to fray at the edges broke his heart. He had to do something now, before the both of them got hurt by that creature.

“Cirice! Don’t lose your cool, Sweetheart! And don’t look it in the eyes!” He called out- the only piece of advice he could offer as he reached his hand over the pool of the harpy’s blackened blood he’d landed near. Cyran had his daggers, of course, concealed blades packed to the nines with a myriad of enchantments for whatever effect he might need.

But Cyran needed something bigger than a dagger for this.

There was a reason he preferred to stick to knives over blades, but right now, all of those excuses had thrown out the window as Cyran plunged his hand into the pool of blood and pulled out a fully formed, blackened, curved scimitar.^[1] The weapon felt more solid in his hands than he was used to, but deadlier than the weapons he currently had in his arsenal. Cyran was going to slice this snake into ribbons for harming his kids.

Without the poison affecting his system any more, the shadows around Cyran grew so oppressive that they put out the nearest red light to him, bathing them area around him in darkness that Cyran disappeared in.^[2,3,4] The snake, if it was paying attention to him at all, would no longer be able to see him as the darkness followed him right until he reached the creature’s back, slicing up the skin with the curved part of the blade and taking out a chunk of its back muscle.^[5,6] He had nothing he could do to stop the snake from attacking Gerhart, but all he could do was try to get its attention and hope that it turned his way. As Cyran backed up, he closed his one remaining eye for a moment, so if it looked his way it would not turn him to stone. He raised his scimitar, poised to strike again if it got close.

---

1. Crimson Armaments
2. Remove Light
3. Pass Without a Trace
4. Mass Shadow Control (following Cyran around)
5. Back Stab
6. Life Link Enchantment