Keys to the Hut

"Do we need to become older to face the Eon Pit?" Santrel wondered.

"Aging is not all it is assumed to be," Fanara answered. "Just look at Milos, he can hardly see or walk well these days."

"But I can keep all of you in good health, that is worth more than my reduced sight.  I can see other things than just with my eyes!" Milos retorted.

Fanara attempted to determine meaning from the warnings and was not happy to find that the phrase was part of a "croning ritual" performed by older witches to celebrate the symbolic and spiritual transformation from motherhood into their elderly years.

"Do we really want to get that old?" Casia asked.

A Clue is Given

"Lets try the south doorway first," Fanara suggested.

Jorgen moved to the double doors and tried the keys that he had.  The same key that worked on the other two doors in this chamber opened these doors also.  The doors opened into another passageway that led south, southwest to another arch that clearly resembled the other teleportation arches the party had used before.

"We should try the other doors before going through this arch," Casia suggested.

Again Jorgen tried the keys on the locked doors and found the same key opened these doors also.  This doorway led to another passageway that headed west and then quickly climbed to the south.

"Everyone stay back there is a trap here," Jorgen exclaimed.

The Eon Pit

Jorgen began to explore the room as the giants did not react immediately.  He moved west and east but did not see any other secret doors or hidden items.  The smashed statue was made of wood and resembled a stooped and ancient beldame, now broken into many pieces across the floor.

Amadeo began to edge into the chamber while the others basically waited in the tunnel for some action.

The giants then yelled "Intruders" in Giant which Santrel related for the group.  At this the giants began to slowly move forward to attack.

Meeting the Warden

"We should head to the west here.  We don't want to leave any enemies behind us!" Jorgen suggested.

"Then you should lead us in that direction." Casia ordered.

Jorgen headed up the passage which looked like the rest of the passages in this area with springtime scenes on the walls.

A few feet into the passage Jorgen noted tiny pieces of quartz that formed an inlay of a crescent moon in the floor of this passage, surrounded by a ring of runes. A few feet beyond the inlay a small round table stood in the middle of the tunnel. A wooden bowl filled with fresh wildflowers sat in the center of the table.