Chapter Four: Barren Wastes of the Desert

Walking through the sand on the first day wasn't too bad after working weapons all night, but Lopiena had her own struggles with stiff muscles and sore legs. Debating between just putting up with it or taking some willow bark became a debate between willow bark and something much stronger by the heat of the afternoon, but by the time they stopped to rest in the cool of the evening Lo still hadn't actually taken anything. Herbs and other natural remedies are impossible to come by in the desert, and they might need it later for a real issue. Besides, Lo considers dealing with pain as ample punishment for her own mistakes. It's a personal struggle that doesn't need to be shared, and Lo was even less talkative than usual most of the day.

With no major confrontations at all on the first day, Lo attempts the Create Water spell once they stop for a rest...and gets a splitting headache for her efforts. Well Jacquelyn did say it was a difficult spell, probably should have practiced it in an area with ample water...though why would anyone need to create water where there is already water? One of the disadvantages of relying on magic...oh well. Pulling out the Archdruid's scrolls for a little bedtime reading, Lo falls asleep almost instantly with the scroll describing species of cactus and their uses still in her hands.

The second day was even worse as far as muscle stiffness, but at least the soreness was mostly gone. As her body gets accustomed to the new movements and muscles being used, she starts really enjoying the scenic rock formations and the shimmering skyline...until the heat of the day starts pounding on her head again. Trying to just sip her rapidly emptying waterskin helps a little, but her hazy vision is a clear indication of...wait, that's a real tower!

Listening to the exchange between Jacquelyn and this stranger is highly entertaining! Imagine, telling someone so full of themselves to stuff it...Lo grins and cringes simultaneously. Oh, how often she'd wished to tell Gramma to stuff it, but the very thought would bring punishment for sure! Not quite sure how this dynamic is going to work out, Lo keeps her silence but draws herself up to look taller than she is, holding her staff to look more regal than she feels. It's all perception at this point anyway.

Two days of sandy travel passed without so much as a complaint from Sigurd, now that he was used to the terrain he walked at a brisk pace keeping in step with Jacquelyn. Even seeing Cirro and Zane eventually mount the camel didn't irritate him as much as it normally would. He was in good spirits all things considered. As they walked he'd occasionally flirt with Ashwyn, bumping her shoulder with his. Ruffling Lopiena's hair was one of his activities to avoid losing his mind.

When they approached the tower, Sigurd looked it over making notes of windows, doors, possible ambush points. It wasn't u til Jacquelyn spoke did he start to relax a bit. She was familiar with this man so he didn't seem to be an immediate threat.

Jacquelyn kept walking past the tower, not paying any mind to the blustering man in the doorway.

He was staring incredulously at her and those with her, his mouth gaped open as though he couldn't believe her nerve.

"You... you have disrespected this order long enough!" He shouted.

"Oh I have, have I?" Jacquelyn called over her shoulder, not even looking back at him. She glanced at her companions. "Don't mind him. He's all talk."

The man gasped, as though affronted anew. "You... You ... harridan!!"

Jacquelyn laughed. "Wow, Razeed. You're expanding your vocabulary. I'm impressed."

"This grevous insult will go on no longer!" He shouted and in the blink of an eye a fireball formed in his hand and he flung it towards Jacquelyn.

Jacquelyn spun around faster than she seemed capable of swung her arm before her, pulling the sand with it and forming a wall. The fireball hit it and vanished.

"You wanna dance, little man?" She asked. Her eyes flashed a golden yellow and she grinned. "By all means."

Razeed charged her, moving far faster in his robes than seemed possible. Jacquelyn met him with equal speed and agility. He was throwing fire at her and the heat was scorching. She countered every attack by using the sand around her, swirling it up in great archs and coming back down to pelt him with the tiny rocks.

"Keep back, you lot!" Jacquelyn called to them. "I got this!"

The fire wielded by the acolyte was growing in circumference and getting hotter. Cyna pulled at the camel's ties to get the cart away from the flames before the product caught. It was so hot that it forced the others to pull back. Any metal on their bodies would begin to over heat immensely if they didn't.

Zane tumbled off of his camel and stumbled his way over to Ashwyn, Sigurd, and Lopiena. The cart was a fair distance from the flames but they were closer. He threw his hands up, palms facing the fight, and a shimmering wall began to form from his hands. It created a vast shield before them, protecting them from the heat of the flames, though it did nothing for the heat of the sun.

Ashwyn watched the battle before them clenching her fists. "We have to do something."

"She did say she was okay." Zane said, though his expression held concern.

Before anyone could react, a strange shifting drew their attention to the sand below. A loud crunch sound echoed in the emptiness, causing the feirce battle to stop and all eyes to turn towards the source... right under the 4 companion's feet.

Like the opening of a leve, the sand beneath them suddenly gave way. Sigurd, Ashwyn, Zane, and Lopiena dropped, unable to gain any sort of purchase as the sand slipped around them. Nothing to grab on to, they simply fell into the darkness.

"Lopiena!" Jacquelyn screamed. The last vision of the surface they had was the sight of Jacquelyn rushing forward, Cirro jumping from the camel's back to join and the acolyte staring dumbstruck at the sight before them. Then... nothing.

When they woke, they were in total blackness and half buried in the sand that fell with them. Looking up revealed a tiny pinprick of light: the hole they fell through. Sigurd and Ashwyn could only just make out the distant shouts from Jacquelyn and Cirro from the surface before even the pinprick of light also vanished.

Silence followed. Even those with attuned dark vision would not be able to see much more than general shapes. A moment later, a glow appears. Zane was holding an old torch that he'd pulled from his bag of holding. He's cast Light upon it so it glowed with a bright white light.

The room they were in was made of old sandstone. The room itself was 15 ft by 15 ft and had two doors on one wall. The doors were once wood but had long sense petrified so they were smooth as stone.

"Are you all okay? I tried to cast Feather Fall as we fell. PLease tell me I hit you with it?" He asked, his voice was strained and somewhat panicked.

[Zane's spell affected Sigurd, Ashwyn and Lopiena, lessening their injuries. Lopiena suffered a flesh wound on her leg. No lasting effects. Sigurd and Ashwyn suffered minor wounds. Sigurd to his head, leaving him stunned – though conscious - and unable to spell cast for a round. Ashwyn to her torso, leaving her incapacitated and unable to move for a round.]

Ashwyn groaned from her place on the stone floor. She had a strong pain in her back and sides. She must have hit something on the way down. It had knocked the wind out of her and when she tried to sit it send new waves of pain throughout her body so she lay still. "I'm alive." She ground out through clenched teeth. Finally stopping her attempts to move, she felt slightly better. She opened her eyes and sought out the light that Zane held. Her eyes widened at what she saw.

Zane's lower body was stuck under a VERY large stone block. His face was losing color and his limbs were shaky.

[Zane suffered a mortal wound internally]

Watching the firefight between Jacquelyn and the acolyte was fascinating to Lopiena. She wasn't sure what kind of magic he was using, but Jacquelyn! Wow! Lo can only dream of using such power someday! ...though the fact that their interchange was reduced to this kind of a fight so quickly is concerning...something very strange is going on.

When the ground falls away under their feet, Lo shouts in shock but is too surprised to scream...just falls limply, watching Jacquelyn and Cirro fall away as the blackness envelopes them.  I'm sorry...

Waking up in utter darkness is actually more of a shock than falling. There was slight pain from a scrape on her leg, but nothing like the last time she'd fallen into a ravine! Still a little shaken but not too bad, Lo scrambles out of the sand when Zane lights the room. "I'm great, thanks to you. Featherfall sounds like a great..." she stops and gasps at the sight of Zane under the block. "Zane!!! Hold on, we'll get you out..." throwing herself at the rock does nothing; she can't lift it herself. If Mother was here, she'd just fling that rock with her magic...but I don't know how to do that yet! Trying to think of something she can do, Lo grabs her staff and places it over Zane. "Heal." It's not going to fix anything unless she can move that block, but maybe it'll stave off death for a little while.  Swallowing her fear,  she rushes to check Ashwyn and Sigurd. They are definitely hurt, but not too badly...and glacing at Zane, it would be best to save what magic she can for him. Digging Ashwyn out of the sand, Lo checks her back...nothing too bad, but it would be best if she didn't move for a bit. "Ashwyn? You're going to be just fine...stay there for a bit, ok?" Pulling off her pack, she takes some of the willow bark and gives it to Ashwyn before turning to Sigurd. He has a gash on his head, but it's already starting to heal on its own...Spellwolves are amazing! Checking Sigurd carefully, Lo looks at his eyes for dilated pupils and other signs of head trauma. He seems ok too, though he'll have a splitting headache once he tries to stand up...unfortunately willow bark won't help and might cause additional issues. Instead, Lo just starts digging him out of the sand. "Sigurd, I know you're hurt...but you're the only one strong enough to lift that block. Please..." voice closing off, Lo swallows against rising tears. She's not strong enough to deal with Zane's injury and she knows it. They have to get back to Jacquelyn and Cirro! Checking Sigurd's head once more and giving him a quick kiss, Lo rushes back to Zane. He's in bad shape, and clearly quite a lot of pain...heading back to her pack, Lo pulls out a different satchel of herbs. "Didn't think I'd actually use this..." Taking a leaf and breaking it in half...then glancing at Zane's size and breaking it in half again, Lo gently places a small piece of the dried leaf on Zane's lips. "Zane, this stuff is very potent. You won't be able to feel much at all, and won't be able to move for at least an hour...but you'll stay awake, at least. It's just until we can move the block and set your legs, ok? Eat it when you're ready, or if the pain is too much to bear."

(Cure wounds, rolled 7+4 spell mod=11 heal)

Sigurd watched as the battle unfolded, he expected nothing less of Jacquelyn's ability. Using the sand as shield against fire? brilliant. As the heat built, he had to place his sword in front of him to shield himself from it's radiance. Seeing Zane put up the barrier made him smile, as much as the gnome annoyed him he was much more useful than he gave him credit for. Irritated now for being able to get close to fight, Sigurd went to reach for one of his axes before the ground gave way.

weightlessness, blackness and then a sudden stop. Sigurd felt the trickle of blood down his forehead and a ringing in his head as he is dug out by Lopiena. Getting his feet under him he clutches his head as the light from the torch stings his eyes. Words fail him at the moment but he puts a calming hand on Lopiena's shoulder just before she rushes to administer medicine to Zane. He moves to Ashwyn's side and looks her over, he didn't smell blood and her colour was good so he could relax a bit. Pressing his forehead against hers he moved to Lo's side with Zane.

It didn't look good... The sandstone block was big.. almost too big. "You're lucky... sorta. This could have crushed you completely..." he said trying to lighten the mood. Carefully Sigurd attempted to lift it, to test it's heft. No good... suddenly it dawned on him. He still had the potion of giant's strength. Now was as good a time as any to use it. Reaching into one of his pouches he pulled the philter out and looked it over. Popping the cock he kicked the liquid back. It was bitter and all kinds of foul tasting...and...and.. A toenail!!! there was a giants toenail in the potion. Spitting the nail out and heaving slightly Sigurd rinses his mouth with his water skin. It took a lot to turn his stomach... but that was a bit much.

Feeling a burning sensation in his body Sigurd gets beside the stone block so that if he can lift it, it wont crush Zane more. Getting a firm grip on the stone and placing his feet apart Sigurd starts to lift. He grunts and growls as his muscles strain against the weight of the stone and it doesn't seem to be budging. He felt the sand shift under his feet and the stone with it. Digging in he felt the full weight in his hands and arms as he was now fighting to keep it from crushing Zane more. There was a sudden thump in his chest. His muscles tightened for an instant and the bulged, Sigurd's exposed and already well defined arm was much bigger and much more defined. As his muscles grew, the sound of his clothes straining to keep together filled the chamber along with his grunting until finally The stone block was flipped over on its side a few feet away.

Almost invigorated from the potion Sigurd takes a look down at his body and laughs at how ridiculously muscular he was now. Completely impractical, he felt slower. But that wasn't important now! Rushing to Zane's side he examined the Gnome with great concern. His legs were broken, without a doubt. They'd need to be set before anything else... He flipped one of his axes in his hand and put the handle in his mouth "Lopiena, Hold him." he said calmly.

Reaching down to to Zane's legs Sigurd felt around to see where they were broken and how bad. As long as he could set the bones they'd heal fine with a bit of magic. Looking the over his legs he grabbed them and gave them a squeeze, feeling a sickening pop and crunch as the bones set back into place.

Zane nodded to Liopiena when she gave him the leaf. "Yes... alright." He said, holding the leaf in his mouth.

Ashwyn smiled weakly as Sigurd pressed his forehead to hers. "I'm okay." She said weakly to him before he moved over to Zane. She watched helplessly as they looked over the stone. She wanted to badly to help but she couldn't move. Watching as Sigurd's body grew to ridiculous proportions and him lifting the stone was amazing! But she was too worried about Zane to be impressed for long.

"Is he okay?" She asked, grunting as she rolled painfully to her side.

Zane was already feeling the effects of the herb, his head was all loopy and the world sort of spun every now and then. "Oh... I'm quite well..." he said, his voice sluring slightly. He slumped to the ground, his head resting on the sand as he watched lazily as Sigurd pulled the rock off then went about pulling his legs. He was already quite numb so he didn't feel anything more than a tug when the bones snaped into place.

Ashwyn flinched at the sound of the cracking. She hoped the old gnome would be okay. He saved all of their lives with his spell. Too bad he couldn't save himself too!

Unable to do much else, she looked up to the place they fell from. She could no longer see the hole and that bothered her greatly. Surely with Jacqulyn's abilities they could just pull them out? But why hadn't they done that yet. She didn't like the uneasiness she felt. She turned her eyes back to the others. "Is he okay?" She asked again.

With the bones set, his legs looked far more normal. Though the color was still pale on his face. Lopiena's heal job repaired some of the damage but he still seemed to be very weak. And his legs would need to be kept still until properly knit or he could use the use of them.

Watching Sigurd with the potion of giant's strength is impressive to say the least!  Eyes widening at Sigurd's bulging muscles, Lo steps back to let him work until the rock is moved and the extent of damage is revealed. Holding Zane while Sigurd set the bones, she smiles at Zane's slurred words...he won't feel a thing! At the crack of bones settling in place, she grins at the extremely muscular werewolf.  "Thanks, Sigurd! He should be back together in no time! Ashwyn, how are you doing? How's your back?"  Leaning over to check Zane more closely, she keeps a smile on her face but cringes inside. It's really bad...but the bones are set, and it could always be worse. Optimism is as much of an elixir as anything else. Resting her staff against Zane again, she focuses inward to calm herself. "Heal." That should stabilize him enough for the next part, at least.

Returning to her pack, Lo takes out the alder staves she'd been studiously not carving. Well all for the best...a standard splint would be far too long anyway. "Uhm Sigurd?  Would you be willing to cut this in half? I think the two halves will be the right length for his legs, and we need to keep them still." While Sigurd works his magic with the axe, Lo starts pulling more stuff out of her pack. Cloth, a rope, several strips of fabric, her old cloak and after a moment of hesitation her new one. Folding her new cloak in half, Lo carefully places it over Zane, making sure he can breathe. The effects of the herb might keep him from feeling pain, but his body will soon go into shock and he needs to keep warm. Taking her old cloak, Lo flips it so the underside is facing up, revealing a sewn in pocket that extends the length of the cloak.  Shoving the remaining alder stave into the pocket, Lo turns and does the same with her staff in a mirrored pocket clearly designed with this use in mind. Rearranging her makeshift stretcher next to Zane, Lopiena gathers the rest of her materials to set Zane's legs. "We shouldn't move him until he's splinted up, but it's good to be prepared."

(Almost forgot to roll...Cure Wounds, rolled 5 +4 spell mod=9 heal)

Sigurd rubbed the now dry blood from his brow and focused on the task he was given by his druid companion. He went to reach for his Axe but found that his new bulk hindered his reach. Frustrated he just snapped the twigs in half and handed them to her. "Not pretty but they'll work." He reached back to see if he could grab the hilt of his sword, he could so at least if there was a fight he'd be able to use that.

Praying the effects of the potion weren't permanent, Sigurd mused about what his form would look like as his hybrid self, or even his dire wolf form. the idea of an overly muscular wolf made him laugh but his clothing was at it's limit as it was in his normal form, there wasn't much give left... he walked back over to Ashwyn and knelt beside her "want me to carry you?" he asked sweetly "I could probably carry everyone with one hand right now.." he joked.

Ashwyn was worried about Zane but she turned to Sigurd as he say next to her. She smiled, which turned into a grimace as she shifted.

"I'll be okay in a little while. Just... Got the wind knocked out of me." she smiled weakly. She reached up with one hanf to pull him closer. Then place her other hand on his cheek, inspecting his injury. Once satisfied that it wasn't anything to worry about she met his eyes.

"I'm glad you're okay." she said, pulling his forehead down to hers.

Glancing up at Ashwyn now and again...she should be feeling better by now, the fact that she isn't is worrying...Lo blinks rapidly at Sigurd simply snapping the stick in half with his bare hands.  "Wow...that definitely works, but uh.  Thanks?"  Looking the pieces over, Lo takes her little knife and quickly pares down the broken ends to be a little smoother.  As Sigurd said, not pretty but they'll do.  Quickly going about her task of binding Zane's legs to the splints, Lo smiles as Ashwyn and Sigurd sit together.  At least everyone is ok, that's the main thing.  Still though...Zane is in no condition to be dragged around whatever place this is, and Lo is almost at the end of her healing ability...one more hit and they're going to be in really bad shape.  No sense worrying about what can't be helped, though.  Taking a deep steadying breath, Lo starts talking just to keep her mind off her worries.

"So what kind of a place do you think this is?  I heard something before the ground dropped out from under us, might have been a switch of some sort...but whatever it is closed right after, I don't think we can get back up and out.  Unless someone thinks we should try up first before seeing...whatever is behind...that?"  Looking nervously at the doors leading to the unknown, Lo tries to get memories of Grimstalkers and Draugrs out of her head.  It's not going to be that bad.  Everything is going to be fine.  Keep breathing...

Finished with her task of binding Zane's legs, Lo reaches for her staff...right, it's in her old cloak being one side of a stretcher...uhh. Picking up her staff cloak and all, Lo heals Zane once more. He needs to be as stable as possible before trying to move him! Spreading out her cloak/stretcher again, Lo looks between Sigurd and Ashwyn. Ashwyn still isn't looking good...Sigurd could probably juggle three Zanes, and a couple of camels to boot but who knows what kind of dexterity his new muscles are giving him...well. Nothing for it now. "I think he's stable enough to move, but he has to be moved quickly and with as little shifting as possible. May I request..." glancing again at Sigurd's bulk, oh dear... "...a hand?"

(Cure Wounds again, rolled a 2 +4 spell mod =6, she's getting tired)

Sigurd kissed Ashwyn's forehead before getting to his feet again. He looked down to the battered Gnome and sighed "You're no end of trouble aren't you..." he said softly. When Lopiena requested his help he nodded. Kneeling down beside the gnome he looked at Lo's makeshift stretcher and smiled, it was good work for being improvised, when they get out of this place he made a mental note on teaching her how to make a travois. Luckily with Zane being so small, carefully picking him up wasn't an issue for Sigurd, He flipped his own cloak around and tied it up with Zane swaddled like an infant to his chest.

Looking to the others he nodded "Alright.. lets find a way out of this place."

Zane was still pretty loopy from Lo's herbs, so when Sigurd spoke to him he giggled. "Oh yes... I suppose I am!"he said happily. When he was hefted up he giggled some more and then sort of slumped against him.

Ashwyn smirked at his loopiness. He was amusing when hopped up on herbs. She twisted this way and that, trying to test her back and sides. They were still sore, but less so. She took a steadying breath before cautiously pushing against her hands to stand. When it didn't cause her to scream in pain, she continued.

She grunted as she moved, but was able to push herself up to a standing position. "Ugh... Remind me NOT to fall into strange holes from now on, okay?"

When Sigurd said they should get moving, she nodded and looked up. "Well... We can't go back the way we came." she turned to the doors. "Guess we should go where we CAN go."

She walked to the closest door, the one on the southeast corner. "Looks... Normal enough..." she careful ran her fingers along the door. "I don't see anything unusual... No traps...." she tried to open it. "It's locked. I can probably get into it." she knelt next to the lock and pulled out her tool kit from her belt pouch.

(Clarification...Sigurd used his own cloak, leaving Lo's cloak and staff behind, right? Moving forward with this assumption).

Watching Sigurd swaddling Zane is quite interesting, and though Lo has worrisome flashes of blood rushing to his head or legs or whatever else, the end result is what matters: Zane is off the floor and transportable. Having Sigurd carrying Zane has the added benefit of leaving both her and Ashwyn free to deal with whatever this strange area has to throw at them, though Lo is vaguely concerned about having Sigurd tied up with carrying the Gnome. Grinning at the image of over-muscled Sigurd carrying a giggling Zane, Lo reaches up and checks on Zane briefly before putting her herbs and other supplies back into her pack. "Thanks, Sigurd. Uhm...if we come to a fight, I guess just put him down and I'll watch him. Those new fighting stances you taught me are great, but I don't think anyone would get past you."

Finished packing, Lo repositions her pack, grabs her staff and kneels next to Ashwyn. Watching her with the lock is interesting; that's another skill set worth learning. "Hey Ashwyn...someone told me to remind you not to fall into strange holes from now on." Smirking, she winks at Ashwyn but then turns serious."Seriously though. How are you doing? I mean really?" The back is nothing to mess with, and now that Zane is more or less stable she's concerned about everyone else, as well.

Ashwyn looked up to send a playful glare to Lo at her teasing. "Oh ha ha." she smirked.

She continued focusing on the lock as she asked her next questions. "I'm fine. Really. Besides, we have more important things to worry about if we can't get out of here."

Grinning at Ashwyn again, Lo watches her skills with the door. "I'm sure we'll get out of here. I just can't help but wonder where 'here' is."

Standing again, Lo takes a few steps back from Ashwyn to let her work without distractions. Now that Zane is more or less stable, she can take the time to really look around. At first glance she'd thought that the two doors led to one large hallway, but upon closer examination it looks like there might be two paths. Not having Ashwyn's experience with traps, Lo doesn't touch anything and instead examines the sandstone walls and the petrified doors. Wherever they are, it's been here a while...and looking up to the yawning pit above them only demonstrates how big it is. "We're a long way down...hopefully there's some stairs or something leading up, and soon." Glancing back at Zane being held by Sigurd, Lo can't help but worry. Stable is one thing, but it's going to take a lot more power than she has to really get Zane on the path of recovery.

Sigurd made sure the gnome was secure and not in an awkward position before walking over to the door. "No traps eh?" He said with a smirk. Using his new hulking frame he drove his foot through the door smashing it to timbers. Amused with himself he wondered how long he'd have this strength for. He turned back to Ashwyn with a grin "lead the way my love. Hide behind me if something shows up"

Ashwyn was so focused on the lock and listening for the telltale clicks of the mechanizm that she didn't notice what Sigurd was doing until the old door shattered like glass. She gasped and pulled back as the shards fell. Then she turned to him with a smirking glare.

As he spoke, she rolled her eyes and stood. "Well, that's one way of doing it." She stood and walked through the door. They entered a small hallway, no more than 5ft by 5ft, that led to yet another door. The room had a stone table against the wall and the remains of an old tapestry hanging on the wall. It was mostly tatters and the fabric was very fragile. The pattern was unrecognizable.

Ash moved to the other door and after another inspection, found nothing rigged to this door either. She took a step back from it and swept her hand towards it. "May as well use that potion while we have it's use." She said with a smirk to her mate.

Jumping back in surprise at the shattering door, Lo almost collapses with laughter. "Oh! That's too funny! Sigurd versus door...door 0, Sigurd 100!" Still chuckling to herself, follows Ashwyn through the little hallway and into the anteroom. Looking from the table to the tapestry, Lo tries to see something in the faded threads tnat might give a clue about this place. Nothing recognizable...hmm. Standing away from the second door, Lo grins at Sigurd, then walks over to Ashwyn. "Ok, I'm betting on three pieces of door flying this way, the rest through the doorway. What say you?" Grinning at both of them, she steps back and waits for the results.

Sigurd looked around the room, it was small, contained nothing interesting to him and had another door blocking their path. At his mates behest he squared up to the door and punched through it as easy as the last, watching it all but evaporate under the crushing blow of his fist. "I may be sad when this wears off" he laughed to himself before walking into the new room.

The new room was larger, about 10ft by 10ft, and had two closed doors in addition to the door they'd just come through. One door made of the same petrified wood on the north side of the room and another of the same material on the east side of the room.

The room had a workbench with old tools sitting on it. They were very old and a combination of woodcarving, embaming, and blacksmithing tools. All were very well used but hadn't moved from their place on the table in centuries. The table itself was covered in sand and dust and in the corner a couple of cacti had grown through cracks on the stone floor. Along the northern wall was an old bookshelf that had old books in all subjects on it. But when touched, the books crumble into dust.

Laying crumpled by the table is the body of a mummified corpse. It too is covered in sand and dust and looks like it hasn't moved for as long as the tools. The room smells stale with hints of rot and some kind of sweet smell that is difficult to pinpoint.

Ashwyn chuckled at Sigurd as he broke another door. "Try and contain yourself, love. I'm pretty sure you'd break us if you so much as looked at us the wrong way like this." She teased as se followed him into the room.

She looked around and frowned. "What in gods name....?" She asked, looking around at the strange settings. "Just where the hell are we...?" She asked, a bit concerned about the bench and tools on it.

Watching the door all but turn to dust under the tender ministrations of Sigurd, Lo takes another srep back and breathes out her amazement. Sigurd is strong by anyone's definition; Sigurd with giant strength? Not to be trifled with!

Walking into the room, Lo has to remind herself constantly to not touch anything. Between the tools and the books, the temptation to come away from this area carrying more than she took in is very real! But the tools ard definitely showing their age, and when barely breathing on one of the books makes full pages crumble to dust as she watches, Lo just feels sad. Time takes away many things, knowledge along with everything else.

Approaching the corpse slowly and cautiously, Lo can't help but notice the strange smell. Could be some sort of poison that killed...whoever this was...but considering the age and dryness of everything, the fact that it's still fresh enough to smell of rot is VERY concerning. Backing away slowly, Lo looks at the new doors soon to be destroyed by Sigurd...hopefully soon...
"I don't like the looks of this...we should get out of here..."

Sigurd took inventory of the room and noted the age of the tools, the state of the table and the orientation of the body. Not a fan of the smell, rot or otherwise, by any means he walked up to the mummy. He's heard enough stories of the dead coming back to life and nearly lost his head to one. He wasn't taking any risk at this point. Unclipping his greatsword from his back he swung it right at the mummy's head, aiming to take it off.