#Dungeon 23 Project - The Ruins of Mount Auyán (Day 006)

After the last excursion underground the players having survived and avoided some encounters that most surely would have wiped them out, returned above ground to camp and during the night there was a terrible earthquake and in the morning the ruins were even more ruined if that were possible. 

# Remember this campaign runs on the Silver standard see #Dungeon 23 Project - The Ruins of Mount Auyán (Day 001)

The stairway they were using is nowhere to be found, not a trace. After they search the area they find a new opening that is a spiral stone staircase and it takes them all day to clear it. The night passes uneventfully and the next morning they cautiously try to explore again.

The staircase descends about 40' into the earth to the center of a room which is about 120' in diameter. The room, floor and walls are all closely fitted cut stone. They are fitted so well that not even the thinnest blade can fit between any two stones. The staircase continues on down into the earth and a cool breeze comes up the staircase from below. You can hear the sound of rushing water coming from below and it may be your imagination, but you think you hear screams and roars and other sounds.

#1 This room is lit up like midday. The room itself has a decorative stone tiled floor that is light in color. There are about 30 benches scattered throughout the room, four fountains and beside each fountain is a metal post that runs floor to ceiling. Each post has hooks from which hang 40 metal cups on each post. The water is sparkling and smells fresh and makes you think of the mountains. Throughout the room are trellises draped with vines which are in bloom with a profusion of colors and scents. The portion of the walls that are not taken up by the doorways, are covered with artwork. 

Equally spaced around this room are 12 doorways leading away from it. These doorways have no doors and open directly into corridors. All of the corridors are dark and the light from the room does not shine into any of the corridors by even an inch. Along each of the corridors are a number of little alcoves with benches and spots in the walls for lamps to be placed. Each corridor runs straight for 60' and are like spokes of a wheel around the room. At the end of these corridors is a circular corridor that that connects the ends of all of these corridor together. On the wall of the circular corridor opposite each of the wheel spoke corridor is another door, twelve in total and each is a massive wooden door with steel reinforcing. Each door is locked and has a pull handle. Each lock will need to be picked or a spell used to open the door.

Each door has a symbol in the center of the door, perhaps they are numbered one through twelve. So for convenience we will use that. 

Behind Door #1

The corridor runs off into the distance, at least for as far as torch light shows. There are doors scattered along both walls. All the doors are wooden and they will all be difficult to very difficult to open, even though they cannot be locked, although if occupied they might be barred from the inside.

#2 20' in this room is 10'x10', it contains a table and four chairs, there are 4 skeletons wearing ornate chainmail armor and accoutrements seated around the table. In the middle of the table is a small chest approximately 18" x 8" x 12" (includes the semi-circle lid). The chest is wood and iron, very ornate, encrusted with gems and gold metal work. Inside there are three trays stacked on top of one another. Each tray is covered by a gold cloth, which would detect magic on the cloth. The first tray has a dagger which is of star metal which contains silver. The dagger will glow, visible only to the bearer, when anyone or anything hostile the bearer is present. It has other magical attributes as well. The second tray has topaz, jade, emerald and diamond gems. All have been carefully prepared for display and all are rare specimens of their kind. The third tray has two rings a matched set one allows for breathing under water and the other allow for breathing in other non-liquid environments. These rings will refuse to be worn except by the same person. 

Just one thing, when you touch the chest, all four skeletons are on their feet in an instant with swords drawn, shields in place and they attack.

#3 30' down the corridor this room is 15'x15', it contains a 6' long table with 6 ornate wooden chairs, beautiful dark wood, polished and glowing in the manner of old wood. On the table - several platters with hot steaming food, meats and various other items, fresh bread, butter and oils, spices and seasonings. The aroma makes your mouth water and your stomach growl. What do you do?

If you start eating, the dishes keep refilling as food is taken. The taste is incredible and you are soon lost in the pleasure of the food. But it is all a powerful illusion, there is nothing there. You will eat until you are stuffed and then will immediately want to leave, once you are outside the room you will feel like you have not eaten for a week and you will be ravenous. The memory of the "meal" you just had will  be but a distant memory.