Tomb of Annihilation - Wyfingrem Hulwir's Journal - Entry 39

My regular Dungeons & Dragons group is playing through Tomb of Annihilation, and I am very excited to be doing so. For this campaign, I am playing a Fallen Aasimar Cleric of the Grave Domain named Wyfingrem. Her family is renowned among her people as Resurrectionists. With the world stricken by a Death Curse that has prevented resurrection, Wyfingrem and an odd assortment of adventurers have answered the call from a mysterious benefactor to find the root cause of the curse and destroy it. Each day, Wyfingrem journals her experiences as a way to feel close to people, especially those dearest to her heart.

My dearest love,

It has truly been an eventful day! We took some time to calm and collect ourselves following the battle with those accursed minotaur skeletons and to hear Walter’s tale from his time inside the mural. Now with clearer heads, we spent time reconsidering our options and what to do next.

Zilditch made a most wondrous and unexpected discovery while sifting through the wreckage of the trapped chest that sprung the boulder upon Walter. He has found an invisible key! We didn’t yet know its purpose, but we had little doubt this bizarre maze of torment and wickedness would eventually reveal its secret. We didn’t have to wait long!

We found a tunnel leading off from one of the rooms that the minotaurs had emerged from. It led to a secret room containing a cabinet and a pendulum. Inside the cabinet, we could see an egg-shaped item, but the doors were locked. Naturally, the invisible key did the trick.

Zilditch retrieved the item from within, and I performed a quick comparison of it to the egg I am holding that belongs to the spirit of Nang Nang. I did not find any similarities between the two, but I did find this new object most fascinating. We are completely unclear on its use or the intent of the pendulum, so Zilditch merely pocketed the egg for now while we did some further investigating.

We decide to spend more time with the serpent statues with an eye toward decoding their purposes, and that of the sprang drain-like apparatuses within them. With seemingly little consideration, Zilditch and Dimo slashed their hands and began dripping their blood into the respective mouths of the statutes!

I have to say I found their actions most disturbing. I’d like to say I have grown accustomed to the seemingly spontaneous proclivities of this party, with most of them showing little to no regard for themselves, let alone others, but their actions still baffle and concern me. This latest decision is just another example.

As the two continued to pour their life’s essence into the serpent statues, we began to hear gurgling from beyond the wall. Even more disturbing, it was building to a frenzy. My first thought was that there must be zombies nearby. Instantly I know, regardless of how I measure the value of the actions my traveling companions have taken, if members of the undead blight are near, I must deliver the just judgement of our Gods!

The stone door beyond the statues was now open and inside we found a massive pit, probably 10 feet in depth and with no railing, in the center of the room. Opposite the door was a site most disturbing and offensive – a throne made of bone and flesh. A great horned skull rested atop it and many more skulls were about it as well. This was an evil place to be sure, and one I felt we should have no part in.

We did not seem to find the source of the frenzy whipped up by the blood of Zilditch and Dimo, but what we did find, however, are a number of ghastly figures spread about the room. They appeared to be incredibly old men with their eyes stitched shut, and in their hands, they held painting utensils with which they were covering the walls and columns in grim illustrations.

Sir McManly wisely suggested we do not enter the room, and indeed others were in agreement, while still others wanted to investigate this room to see what secrets it held. Since my pledge to the Gods of Life and Death includes the destruction without prejudice of all creatures that walk in the middle grounds between life and death, I had to know if these withered men were undead or not.

I called upon the Gods of Life and Death to bestow upon me their sacred extraordinary site so I might know if there were any undead creatures in my vicinity. My suspicions were validated. These painting creatures were indeed abominations. While my companions debated whether to abandon this room or look further into it, I stepped into the room, and with the power and blessings of our Gods steadily building within me, I unleashed holy fury. Instantly two of the foul constructs were destroyed.

Gods protect me though, our doom appeared at hand for at that moment the ground within the pit in the room erupted, and from beyond it sprang a monstrous lizard-like creature with terrible sharp teeth and wicked claws.

I was saved from a horrific fate by Sir McManly, who tore me from the room and back into the hallway before fleeing himself to a safer position further down. So many things happened at once from that moment. Before I could gather myself, Zilditch was firing upon the beast while Walter and Toni began casting spells. For a moment it appears the giant lizard was going to run away but it quickly reversed its course and before I could regain my feet and escape, it had me in its mouth!

My love, surely I knew my tale was coming to an end at that moment. I feared I had failed the Gods of Life and Death and more importantly, failed you and all our family. But then, springing out of nowhere, came Al’Variean, and with a brush of his ebon hand, he poured enough healing energy into me to prevent my demise. And then, quick as a bolt of lightning, Dimo was launching himself skyward toward the lizard beast. He pried the creature’s jaw open enough for me to escape.

I was healing myself as I hit the ground, and just as immediately Sir McManly is dragging me from the battle. His act of heroism is unjustly rewarded, however, as the monster damaged his arm so severely it hangs uselessly. Thank the Gods, though, he is able to transform himself into a sheet of mist before reappearing far away from the beast.

Toni was there in an instant to heal the noble man’s arm, and I am grateful for her ability to do so. I began gathering righteous fury within me. I felt its white-hot radiant power boiling my blood. And then with a final nod from our Gods, a bolt of pure and blessed light erupted from within me and raced toward the giant lizard, exploding upon it. While it staggers from the blow, Zilditch stepped up and drove his trident up through the beast’s maw and into its brains, ending the monster’s life.

Finished with this creature, we return our attention to eliminating the insult upon the living and the dead that is these man-like painting monstrosities in the room.

With that handled, we notice a large metallic scepter sitting upon the throne of bone and flesh. In a rare moment, we all agree this object is likely dangerous, cursed or both, and decide to instead use one of our magical hand constructs in an attempt to retrieve it. This turns out to be unfruitful, however, as the scepter simply weighs too much for one of our constructs to manage.

It has been another exhausting and costly ordeal that we have faced today, and so unfortunately that means it is advisable that we rest. Once again, Sir McManly is for some strange reason adamantly against taking one. I respect the man for his passions, and indeed he has become someone I unfailing trust and admire, but this desire to press on, particularly in a place so fraught with danger, has me perplexed. Blessedly, once I mention that I am exhausted and have doubts that I will be able to provide much healing should it be needed, he relents, and so we have retired to the safety within Walter’s magical house.

If seems the days only get more difficult the more time we spend in this place of nightmares. You would think we would have become acclimated to its threats and therefore more durable against its challenges. Alas, it seems the journey and its obstacles seemingly remain just beyond us.

But, my dearest love, it will all be worth it when we can firmly say the Death Curse is nothing more than a wretched memory, and I am able to return home once again where I can feel you warmly in my embrace. I will tell you just that thought has put the grandest of smiles upon my face! It is you who gives me life, and that tickles me ever so.

Until then, sleep peacefully and fret not for me. The Gods of Life and Death shall preserve and protect DA

All my love…

Day 57

I awoke this morning to the feeling of new strength surging within my body and soul! It is as if the Gods of Life and Death heard my thoughts and prayers regarding the measure of our abilities against that of this awful place and bestowed upon me greater blessings.

Walter and Zilditch mention they intend to return to the room with the scepter upon the throne to investigate it further. Before they leave, however, I notice Walter seems to have sprouted horns atop his head, and white fur now covers his body. Truly this place is cursed and now so is he! I know not where or how he became so affected but what I do know if that it is my responsibility to help him fight off such an aggressive affliction.

Before I can attend to the man, he and our goblin friend are up close and personal with the wicked throne of bone and skin. Zilditch even sits upon it! Fools they are, one and all! Sitting on a throne of such clear malevolent design and intent? How can I possibly keep them all safe when so many of my companions live their lives so recklessly?

As I am pondering this, I realize Dimo is furiously ripping feathers from the dead lizard creature and stuffing them in his hat. Under normal circumstances, this would truly be the most bizarre thing I would witness all day. Alas, however, it is but a brief reprieve from the actions of Walter and Zilditch.

I heard a shout of shock coming from across the room, and I turned to find Zilditch had risen from the throne and was stabbing Walter with his trident. Toni rushed in and attempted to soothe the murderous intent from Zilditch, and Dimo leaped from the fallen creature, attempting to tackle him, but the goblin creature was too wily and slipped away. The next thing we knew, Walter and Zilditch were exchanging blows with one another. Clearly, they both had been cursed by this place!

Toni and I worked in tandem to remove these afflictions. She prayed to remove the curse from Zilditch, and he instantly resumed his normal behavior. I approached Walter and performed the same prayer, and upon its completion, the horns and fur disappeared. His hand that had turned to bone however is unaffected. I am disturbed and perplexed by this. I must consult with the Gods of Life and Death to learn how I can fully restore that appendage.

Walter seemed unphased by any of these changes, however, and he simply resumed his investigation. He did manage to find a secret room too.

The room was adorned with frescos of the surrounding jungle, birds of the jungle, and more. Yet another sarcophagus rested in this room. Upon it sat a bejeweled cockroach. Above the sarcophagus hung a sphere of light with what appears to be a smiling visage.

Upon opening the sarcophagus, we found the preserved remains of a well-dressed woman wearing a black gown. She was wearing a golden mask that resembled a hornet and in her left hand was an iron scepter identical to the one on the throne.

We discovered the bejeweled cockroach is actually a jewelry box and within it was a jade key mysteriously shaped like a crocodile, and also a necklace with eight beads.

Much to my disbelief, Walter returned to the throne made from human remains and retrieved the iron scepter. He attempted to replace the one in the sarcophagus with it, but when he does, the smiling sphere suddenly becomes a frowning one, and flames burst forth from it, burning him.

Walter escaped from the room, singed but alive, and with both the jewelry box and the scepter that the dead woman had been holding.

Al’Variean spoke some arcane words and the air suddenly filled with energy. Multiple objects upon us and in our possession began to glow, revealing them to have magical abilities. Included among the affected items were the necklace and scepter Walter had taken.

The drow tells us the necklace gives off the energy of Evocation magic and that upon closer inspection the beads are made of garnets. The scepter pulses a type of Transmutation magic. We do not yet know what these magical items do, or even if they are cursed, but we decided we had had enough of this location. Al’Variean healed the burn damage Walter sustained and then we left.

There was an east/west passage we hadn’t yet investigated beyond the room where we fought the gargoyles, so we decided to check it out. We found the corridor only briefly extends in either direction. To the west, we see a mirror hanging on the wall. To the east is a door with a painting of a man on it. The man’s face is made of stars. He is raising a withered left hand with his palm facing outward.

Sir McManly decided to investigate the door but found nothing obvious about it other than it had no keyhole. Walter recognized the man in the painting’s withered appendage to be like his own, so he approached the door and knocked on it with his own skeletal hand. Nothing seemed to happen though.

Tragedy would soon find us on this day too, however.

Dimo decided to look more closely at the mirror instead. But before he could reach it, he suddenly disappeared! Thinking the mirror might have swallowed our friend, Zilditch crept close enough to it to see if he could spot Dimo within the reflective glass, but it was to no avail.

Once again, Al’Variean used his spell to reveal magic within our surroundings and confirmed the mirror did indeed gives off the energies of Transmutation and Conjuration magics. We are at a loss for what to do when Al’Variean brilliantly suggests we check the books and notes we took from Withers the Architect’s office to see if there is anything within them regarding this mirror. Inside Withers’ spellbook, we see the name Khomara Blackfire written. Al’Variean speaks the name, but nothing happened.

We then collectively think about the plaque found on this level of the dungeon. They often provide clues for the many riddles and traps we may encounter. This one read:

Death to Fire, Dine or Drown
Precious Air and Falling Sand
The Army Sleeps in Silence
The Mirror Holds Twelve
Find the Iron Scepter’s Twin
The Maze Holds the Key

While many of these lines do make sense to us and represent items or experiences we have already encountered, other than the reference to the mirror, we cannot yet decipher what the clue is trying to tell us.

Zilditch decided to touch the mirror. As he is able to fully approach it, unlike unlucky Dimo, we deduce the mirror is already holding the 12 souls referenced on the plaque and therefore cannot take another. The goblin speaks Khomara Blackfire’s name while touching the mirror and we notice it become duller. Saying the name again seems to do nothing, but Al’Variean notes a shimmer that traveled across its surface. After a time, the dullness in the mirror fades, and it once again looks how it did when we first found it.

At a complete loss, I decided to turn to the Gods of Life and Death for their divine intervention. Falling to my knees, I pleaded with them for many minutes, asking that they judge me worthy of their infinite wisdom. I pray that they grant me some shred of direction on how to solve this mystery and retrieve our friend. Just as I was prepared to accept that they hadn’t heard my prayer, I got a reply! What wonderful blessings to receive! In my head, I heard powerful voices, the voices of the Gods of Life and Death themselves, speaking in the most beautiful harmony and crashing upon my spirit with unfathomable power. Their message is simple: We must choose what cell number we want the mirror to spit out.

I am incredibly humbled that they chose to answer my prayer among the no doubt countless prayers they are receiving at any one moment. My faith and love for them is even stronger than ever before if that is even possible. Now we must figure out how to do just what they have directed us to do, however. How do we know what number to choose? Twelve seems too obvious. But perhaps simple and obvious is the correct answer. We know not how many attempts at this we may get, so we must exercise all caution and not make a rash decision. The Gods have given us an immeasurable boon. We cannot squander it!

We are taking time to carefully consider our options, and so I am using this time to write you, my dearest love. Somehow just doing so makes me feel as if you are here and near me, and it is that feeling that often helps calm my emotions so that I may see things more clearly.

I hope to solve this riddle soon so that we may rescue our friend Dimo from his entrapment and so that we may be on with our journey once again. Until then, I cherish you!

All my love…