Editing Minas Aarda Notes (section)

== Explanatory Notes ==


Hama’Las, Gateway to Minas Aarda

The Pentogram gate was put to the X of the Minas under the mountains of Hama’Las.  There is a connecting labyrinth that leads to the Citadel but it is easily defended and secured with secret doors and traps.  The Party enter a small room is bathed in a dark green glow from a gem suspended above the pentagram which occupies the centre of the floor.  On one wall is a X carving similar to the one the party had already seen in Zundar but without the underground scenes of Iki-Moko and Gloun. This time, though, the evil banner is aflame and Gloun is depicted holding Rakos aloft.

Opposite this carving is another of a ring of gold with a green gem set into it. Beneath this is the symbol of the house of Hamar, סּ, and beneath that a 1st Age depiction of a great battle scene surrounded by mountains. As part of this scene Hamar is depicted holding up his hand with a ring upon it, and fissures are opening beneath the enemy causing them to fall to their deaths. Behind the mountains are sheets of flame (Loki in the X) to the left with the allied troops is the symbol of a tree and to the right with the enemy forces are wolves.  The gemstone above can not be moved, and causes great pain when anyone tries.  As the scene is X the onlooker is presumed to be aligned to Odin or Thor; if not a save needs to be made or they suffer 10-80 htps of damage.

The way forward consists of a choice of two passages, one to the X and one to the X.  And a secret door - through Gloun, only visible to good and through use of a true seeing (or similar) dweomer.  Wizard locked and Glyph of Warding as at 18th Level.  Having passed through the dwarf, the Party are crammed into a narrow corridor, lit with the Blue of Odin and the Green of Hamar.  As the entrance opens, the dwarf says ‘From Hama'Las to Minas Aarda descend, all those that know Lastar as a friend’.  At the end of the corridor is a hidden door.  On the floor is a 6 inch thick, 4’ diameter, blue circle with each Dwarven Houses’ symbol represented, other than Hamar.  On the wall (door) is the Codicil whose pages align with that presented by the good party.  This triggers the code - names of those of all races who have connection with Aarda and have formed councils of war against the enemy.  1st Age would be:

Men: Lastar, Bavarik and Gundleus.
Dwarves: Balem, Dor, Hamar, Zem, Ishtur, Findor and Maedus.
Elves: Gelmir, Aerandir, Nenya and Elwe.
Gnomes: Unglak, Yagrik and Ikshoos 

Above the Book is the Symbol of Hamar and the Ring.  Once the correct people are identified, the Party enters Minas Aarda at the 5th Age room.(See below)

To the X a short passage extends to an arch. Immediately 3 Ettin attack as anyone tries to enter.  Beyond that many trapped corridors and false passageways lead the unwary out of Hama’Las.  The X symbolising Fenris in the 5th Age.

To the X a door opens onto spiral stairs leading down into darkness. The air grows increasingly humid and the stairs become slippery.  The stairs emerge into another room, dimly illuminated through a stained glass window in the East wall. The floor is wet and covered in rotting vegetation; algae and running water cover the walls in places.  Two shambling Mounds occupy the room.  A doorway opens onto more stairs on the far side of the room. Part of the stairs fall away and a pit with spikes at the bottom opens up if trodden on.

(3rd Age) A door at the bottom leads into a large room with two Thessalhydra waiting to ambush the unwary.  In the room there is a large statue of Thor striking an anvil whereupon three broken pieces of a sword are arranged. The haft of the sculpted weapon looks similar to the haft of a sword that Merc has. Above Thor is the symbol of the Ring of Earth and on the wall behind the statue is a great carving of Odin's eye. On the wall next to the statue is a depiction of Ragnarak as seen from a dragon's eye view. Loki is releasing Fenris and Thor is looking up, swinging his hammer at the dragon. Odin and the rest of the Gods are fighting the Giants in front of Asgard.  Again a X Age scene which gives a clue that Thor is hiding a passageway.

Behind the statue, Thor's cloak is sculpted into a bridge that leads to a door above floor level.  Above the secret door is a falling block trap activates when the door is opened without a key.  Inside, stairs lead down.

(2nd Age) At the foot of the stairs there is a small room with a blue circle on the floor. Inside the circle is a painting of an open book, The symbols of all the Dwarven houses surround this central image.  A scene on the left hand wall changes its form as the party enter: what is before just a forest scene comes alive.  A forest glade is shown with a waterfall as seen from the water. On the left hand bank a young half elf, X, with short blonde hair and blue eyes enters.  He has long and short swords, although they are sheathed, and a bow on his back.  He wears studded leather armour and his legs are muddy.  He takes a cautious look around the glade and then crouches to drink from the water.  He pulls a light green gem from the water, examines it and smiles.  Then he sits down and takes out a flute and begins to play. At this point the image blurs and the scene begins again, repeating over and over.

A corridor, lined with unlit torches, leads onwards. In the ceiling of the corridor is carved the underside of a dragon with legs but no wings visible. The corridor turns sharply right and ends in a door. This door opens on to more stairs leading down.  At the foot of these stairs is a larger room, in which four giant Cyclopes are sat around a fire cooking a body.  This room is the final check point for anyone wishing to enter the Hama’Las

The large area that the Cyclopes inhabit ends in a single door.  When the door is opened, the corridor beyond fills with Gith warriors waiting to attack. They charge forward using all manner of spells available to them with little heed for the safety of their comrades.

I have replaced dates, Ages, names and direction with X.  I hope it is still legible.