Episode Ten – Oh Mummy Dearest!

Our adventures discover not all moms are created equal.

The Arcane Isles

Dive into the enchanting world of Eric J. Wynn with the "Arcane Isles: Borkum the Battler" podcast, a Dungeons & Dragons inspired audio adventure available at ArcaneIsles.com. Join us on a first-person journey through a richly imagined realm where magic and mystery meet. Each episode, narrated by characters from the Arcane Isles, brings to life thrilling tales of valor, sorcery, and intrigue. Whether you're a seasoned D&D enthusiast or a newcomer to the world of fantasy role-playing, Borkum the Battler offers an immersive experience into a fantastical narrative. Tune in and become part of the adventure that unfolds within the Arcane Isles, where every corner holds a new challenge, and the fate of the world rests in the hands of heroes like never before. 

https://arcaneisles.com/

X: Follow me on X where I am noted under the company name, Lonely Mountain Mining Company. Yep, I named my company for that mountain. If you know you know! I discuss the world of Arcane Isles, cryptocurrency and occasionally a current event or two. 

@ericwynnus

YOUTUBE: Follow me on Youtube where I mix music with my Arcane Isles artwork, to make something interesting.

@ArcaneIsles101

Fiction: I will be releasing other fiction of my own creation. Watch my spaces for those upcoming materials.

Transcript

Chapter Ten – Oh Mummy Dearest!

Along the north side of the chamber dominating the far wall, stood an imposing door. It was unlike any we had encountered so far—a massive structure made of dark, aged oak, bound by thick bands of blackened iron that were adorned with intricate carvings.

The carvings on the metal were a tapestry of ancient runes and depictions of celestial bodies—moons in various phases, stars in complex constellations, and comets streaking across a stylized sky. The craftsmanship suggested a reverence for the celestial, perhaps indicating the door as a gateway to knowledge or power tied to the cosmos itself.

At the center of the door was a large, circular seal, featuring an engraved image of a sunburst with an eye at its core. This motif seemed to watch over us, its gaze piercing through the dim light. Surrounding the central seal were four smaller locks, each adorned with a symbol representing the elemental forces—earth, air, fire, and water.

"The door is enchanted," Elaria murmured, her eyes narrowing as she examined the runes. "These symbols suggest a complex locking mechanism, likely requiring a specific sequence or keys related to these elements."

Lykxnzzl stepped closer, his agile fingers tracing the lines of one of the locks. "Looks like we’ll need to find the keys or solve a puzzle to proceed," he suggested, his tone indicating both excitement and caution. He reached into his pack and pulled out a set of tools, and he went to work trying to release the locking mechanisms.

Hawk Tuah’s staff glowed softly as she too studied the door. "The celestial imagery could mean the chamber beyond is dedicated to arcane or divine knowledge," she pondered aloud. "Whatever lies behind this door, it was meant to be well protected."

I stepped forward, laying a hand on the rough texture of the wood. Despite the age of the door, it felt solid, almost alive with the magic infused within its timbers. "We need to be ready for whatever lies beyond. This door wasn’t made so formidable without good reason," I declared, meeting the gaze of each of my companions.

With a renewed sense of purpose, we set about the antechamber, searching for clues or mechanisms that might help us unlock the door. The promise of what lay beyond, whether it be treasure, knowledge, or danger, drove us forward, each of us determined to face whatever challenges awaited with bravery and resolve. The enigmatic door stood as both a barrier and a beckoning, its secrets locked away just beyond our reach, for now.

Lykxnzzl, ever vigilant and tireless, knelt beside the ancient door, "Rest while you can," Lykxnzzl said, his voice steady and calm. "I’ll see what I can do about this lock."

I settled against a wall, my axe resting at my side. Hawk Tuah sat nearby; her staff dimmed to a soft glow as she closed her eyes in meditation. Skyclaw stretched out, his ears twitching occasionally, alert even in repose. Elaria took a seat beside me, her hands gently glowing as she tended to minor wounds and fatigue with her healing magic.

Lykxnzzl’s fingers moved with practiced precision, his eyes focused intently on the intricate lock before him. He worked methodically, his tools making barely a sound as they probed and manipulated the ancient mechanism. The lock was a formidable challenge, but Lykxnzzl’s determination and skill were unmatched.

The flickering torchlight cast shadows on the door, highlighting the concentration etched on Lykxnzzl’s face. Every now and then, he would pause, listening intently to the subtle clicks and whirrs of the lock’s internal workings, before continuing his meticulous work.

As we rested, the atmosphere in the chamber grew calmer. The tension of battle slowly ebbed away, replaced by a sense of camaraderie and quiet resolve. Hawk Tuah murmured a quiet prayer, her voice a soothing presence in the dim light. Elaria’s healing magic brought a gentle warmth, easing our aches and restoring our spirits.

Despite the calm, my eyes occasionally drifted to Lykxnzzl, marveling at his unwavering focus. He was a master of his craft, each movement deliberate and precise. The lock seemed to resist his efforts, but he remained undeterred, his determination a testament to his dedication to our quest.

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours, and just as the weariness of our ordeal began to settle heavily upon us, a faint, satisfying click echoed through the chamber. Lykxnzzl’s eyes lit up with triumph as he carefully withdrew her tools, a small smile playing on his lips.

"It’s done," he announced, his voice filled with quiet pride. "The lock is open."

We gathered by the door, excited beyond belief. What would we find beyond the door? Treasure? Gold? Jewels?

“Is everyone ready?” I whispered. They all nodded yes.

I leaned against the door, and was amazed at how easily it pushed open.

As the ancient door creaked open, we stepped cautiously into the next chamber, our torches casting flickering light on the surroundings. The air was musty and thick, laden with the scent of decay and the passage of centuries. A palpable sense of foreboding washed over us as we took in the sight before us.

The chamber was grand and ominous, its walls adorned with faded murals depicting scenes of ancient rituals and forgotten gods. The floor was made of smooth, cold stone, cracked and worn by time. At the center of the room stood a large, ornately carved sarcophagus, standing uprights, its surface covered in intricate hieroglyphs and symbols of power.

"Stay alert," I whispered, my grip tightening on my axe. "We don’t know what we’re dealing with here."

Elaria stepped forward, her staff glowing softly, illuminating the carvings on the sarcophagus. "These markings are ancient," she murmured, her eyes tracing the symbols. "They speak of a powerful being, one who was both revered and feared."

Hawk Tuah approached the sarcophagus cautiously, her staff ready. "A mummy," she said quietly, her voice tinged with both awe and caution. "Bound in this sarcophagus, its power sealed within."

Lykxnzzl, ever the vigilant thief, examined the floor and walls for hidden mechanisms. "Let’s be careful," he advised, his fingers brushing against a barely visible pressure plate. "This place is likely rigged to protect its secrets."

As we gathered around the sarcophagus, a sense of unease settled over us. Elaria began to chant softly, her voice resonating with a calming power as she traced the symbols with her fingers. The air seemed to hum with energy, the ancient magic stirring at her touch.

“What you doing?” I asked. But, it was too late. Something was awoken to our presence.

Suddenly, the lid of the sarcophagus began to shift, a low grinding sound filling the chamber as it slid open. We tensed, weapons at the ready, as a plume of dust and decay rose from within. The air grew colder, and a faint, malevolent presence seemed to seep from the depths of the sarcophagus.

With a final, resounding thud, the lid slid open, revealing the mummy within. Wrapped in ancient, tattered linens, its once regal attire now faded and crumbling, the mummy lay in a state of preserved decay. Its hollow eye sockets seemed to gaze into the void, and an aura of dark power surrounded it.

I think we were all in shock. Nobody said anything as we stared at the mummy.

And, then it moved.

The mummy stirred, its movements slow and deliberate. The linens rustled as it began to rise, its skeletal hands reaching out with a sinister intent. A low, guttural moan escaped its withered lips, a sound that seemed to echo through the very fabric of the chamber.

"We’ve awakened it!" I shouted, raising my axe. 

The mummy stared at us, taking us in sizing up those who had awakened it. Its ancient power radiating from its form. Hawk Tuah stepped forward, her staff glowing with a vibrant, green light. "By the spirits of nature, be bound!" she chanted, vines erupting from the ground to ensnare the mummy’s limbs.

Elaria raised her staff, its crystal shining with a brilliant, holy light. "By the light of the ancients, be purified!" she intoned, directing a beam of radiant energy at the mummy.

The mummy roared, its voice a haunting wail of ancient sorrow and fury. As it struggled against the binding vines and the holy light, I saw an opportunity. "Attack!" I shouted, charging forward with my axe raised high.

With a mighty swing, I brought my axe down on the mummy’s chest, aiming for the heart that held its dark power.  But the beast was quicker than I thought. It reached up and grabbed my axe with one hand, and with an unexpected strength wrenched it from my grip. I was in shock. With its spare hand it struck me across the head, and I went flying across the room. 

Lykxnzzl flanked the creature and stabbed at with his dagger from the side. But the dagger inflicted no damage. The creature turned and roared as it swung my axe at Lykxnzzl. Lykxnzzl dodged the axe and fell backwards towards me. Helping me to my feet. “Oh, great, he has your axe now.” He offered up to me, condemningly.  

“Sorry about that I,” I muttered. Embarrassed at my failed effort.

“Give me one of your daggers,” I asked Lykxnzzl.

“Uh No,” he replied as he charged forward and stabbed at the mummy several times.

With a burst of speed, Lykxnzzl lunged at the mummy, his daggers flashing in the torchlight. He struck with deadly precision, plunging one of his daggers into the mummy’s chest. The creature let out a terrible wail, its ancient, dried flesh hissing and smoking where the blade pierced it.

But the mummy was far from defeated. With a snarl, it lashed out at Lykxnzzl with a speed and strength that belied its decayed appearance. Its skeletal hand, wrapped in tattered linen, struck Lykxnzzl with a bone-crushing force. The impact sent him flying across the chamber, his body slamming into the stone wall with a sickening thud.

"Lykxnzzl!" I shouted, my heart pounding in my chest as I rushed to his side. He lay on the ground, dazed and bleeding, but still conscious. His eyes, though filled with pain, remained defiant.

"Here’s my dagger" he gasped, struggling to his feet. "Your turn."

I took the dagger and surveyed the scene. 

Hawk Tuah stepped forward, her staff already glowing with a vibrant, green light. She was a formidable druid, her connection to the natural world her greatest strength. "By the spirits of nature, be bound!" she chanted, raising her staff high. Vines again erupted from the ground, their tendrils thick and strong, wrapping around the mummy's limbs in an attempt to restrain it. She struck it multiple times as it became entangled in her cobweb of vines.

The mummy snarled, its movements slow but powerful. It tore at the vines with its skeletal hands, the ancient wrappings of its body unraveling as it struggled. Hawk Tuah's eyes narrowed in concentration, her lips moving in a rapid, rhythmic chant as she summoned more vines to reinforce the bindings.

Elaria joined in, her staff shining with a brilliant, holy light. "By the light of the ancients, be purified!" she intoned, directing a beam of radiant energy at the mummy. The light struck the creature, causing it to recoil and hiss, its decayed flesh smoking where the holy magic made contact.

Hawk Tuah shifted her focus, chanting a new spell. Her staff glowed brighter, the green light intensifying as she drew upon the power of nature. "Spirits of the forest, lend me your strength!" she cried, directing her staff toward the mummy. A torrent of thorny vines burst forth, entangling the creature and piercing its wrappings with sharp, thorny barbs.

The mummy roared in fury, its voice a haunting wail of ancient sorrow and rage. It struggled against the vines, tearing at them with renewed vigor. Hawk Tuah's face was set in grim determination, sweat beading on her forehead as she poured all her energy into maintaining the spell.

I jumped back into the fray and stabbed at the mummy with the dagger. My stab was not the best. Using the dagger, I was much closer to the beast than I wanted to be. The mummy turned and grabbed me by the throat and began crushing the life out of me. I stabbed several more times, but the mummy had me with one hand, as it used my axe to strike away at the vines holding it in place, trying to free itself to attack the others.

I feared I was dying, and this was going to be it. I could not breath, I could feel my eyes bulging in their sockets. My throat was being crushed. I managed several feebler stabs at the mummy’s heart, and then the last thing I remembered was a blinding blast of light. Then I remembered nothing else.

When I came through I did not how long I had been out. “I am alive!” I mumbled to myself.  I could see Elaria praying over us.  Hawk Tuah and Lykxnzzl were both resting, trying to catch their breaths from the experience. 

Hawk Tuah saw me looking about and gave me the thumbs up. I gave her one too. The mummy was encased in vines. Its corpse smoldering from a blast of holy power that Elaria had cast. It was defeated. We survived the battle with a mummy.

My throat was sore, from where the mummy had tried to crush my throat. Elaria finished her prayers and then came to check on me. She said a small prayer and then touched my shoulder. I could feel a warmth flowing through me and I felt invigorated. 

“I have used up all of my healing abilities for now. I need time to rest. If anyone else gets hurt, I am all out of tricks for now.”

I stood up. “Did anyone check for treasure I asked??

“I like what your thinking,” Lykxnzzl replied, standing up next to me. He handed me my precious axe. “Try not to lose it a second time, old boy.” He said as he smirked. 

“You too go ahead, us girls are going to rest a bit,” Hawk Tuah replied.

Lykxnzzl and I stepped over the corpse and stared into the Sarcophagus. The torch lit, immediately danced on the golden object that we stared at. It was a golden scepter. Inlaid with jewels. 

“Well look at what we have found,” Lykxnzzl mumbled as he reached into the sarcophagus and removed the scepter. He twirled it in his hands, examining the craftsmanship, the gems, and writings on it. “This will fetch us a pretty copper or two.”

“Do you think this scepter is magical?” I asked.

“Very possibly, these runes here are beyond my comprehension. But there are others that could shed light on them. Nevertheless, we have treasure. That is what we are here for.”

We checked the rest of the sarcophagus and found nothing else. 

“Odd, so little treasure here with this fellow, Lykxnzzl offered up, this may not be the only room. Start checking for a secret passage or door.”

We each took a wall and start our search it took about twenty minutes when I found something odd by accident. I placed my torch into the iron sconce mounted on the wall. But, when I did, it moved slightly out of position. Thinking nothing of it, I adjusted the sconce back into its original position, and in doing so, I heard the creak and watched the wall in front of me, slide open.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here? I pondered out loud.