Sinas and the Stone

The group gazed at the strange keyhole in the top of the pillar, recognizing it as the perfect fit for the peculiar key they had found earlier. Weary from their recent battles with the goblins and the animated statue, they decided to take a much-needed rest. They found a secure spot among the ruins and settled in for the night, tending to their wounds and regaining their strength.

After a long rest, the group decided to explore the old buildings surrounding them. The first few structures yielded little more than a few coins and some old pottery, their interiors dusty and abandoned. As Johnathan was checking for traps at the entrance of one particularly dilapidated building, he noticed its unstable condition. He treaded carefully inside, aware that any wrong move could bring the whole structure down.

In one room, Johnathan discovered three skeletons, their bony fingers clutching at long-forgotten relics. One skeleton held a scroll, which Johnathan gingerly removed. Unfortunately, the skeleton's collapse triggered a chain reaction, causing the building to start crumbling around him. As the walls caved in, Johnathan made a desperate dash for the exit but became trapped when a beam pinned his leg. The group quickly rushed to his aid, pulling him free, but he was in no condition to continue without healing.

Sinas stepped forward, invoking his deity's power to mend Johnathan's injuries. The healing energy flowed through the halfling rogue, restoring his strength and allowing him to press on. Inside the next building, Johnathan spotted a pristine jug on a shelf, but the precarious state of the wall made him wary of moving it. Instead, he pocketed a gold bracelet he found and reported the jug's location to the group.

Vorden, ever the bold and unconventional warrior, decided to retrieve the jug himself. With a mighty swing of his sword, he smashed through the wall, creating an opening to grab the jug. However, the building began to collapse around him, and he found himself buried under the rubble. Struggling to breathe, Vorden's life flashed before his eyes as his friends scrambled to dig him out. Just as he thought he would meet his end, they managed to shift enough debris for him to breathe again, saving his life.

With the jug in their possession, the group returned to the pillar and inserted the key into the slot. The top of the pillar opened, revealing a red heart-shaped crystal pendant wrapped in gold. As Sinas picked it up, he was transported to a vision of the city, now vibrant and bustling with life. The streets were filled with people, but a sense of dread washed over Sinas as he saw a black storm looming on the horizon. He tried to warn the citizens, but they paid him no heed. The storm swept through the city, and its inhabitants fell to the ground, lifeless.

The group watched in horror as Sinas collapsed, surrounded by a strange red mist. When the mist cleared, they rushed to his side, finding the red gem gone. Sinas awoke, disoriented and confused. He tried to warn his friends about the impending danger, but his words were in a language they couldn't understand. It was then that they noticed the red gem had embedded itself in Sinas's chest, with golden tendrils spreading across his body like tree roots.