"We've taken a wrong turn," Jacques breathed. Flanking him on either side, Telorn and Skyflower nodded.
There were passages out of this room, one to the left and the other to the right. Ahead of them was a raised dais, with seven stone thrones arranged in a crescent to face them. The central throne was two steps higher still, on its own raised platform. Each throne was occupied by a jackal-headed corpse, wrapped in funerary bandages and arranged stiffly in a seated position.
They stopped at the end of the passage, a step away from actually entering the room.
"Odds that they all stand up the moment we set foot in there?" asked Telorn.
"Absolutely certain," Skyflower whispered back.
Jacques studied the dead things again. Had the one in the center turned its head to regard them? He wasn't sure, and that was worse than knowing it had. "Okay, next question," breathed Jacques. "If we back away, are they going to get up and pursue us?"
"...Seems likely," Skyflower told him, "and I don't think we can take them."
"Then it's diplomacy," Jacques said, trying to ignore just how desperately he suddenly needed to piss. "Telorn... go back and get the others. Skyflower... wait here. If they turn me into paste, try to get everyone back out up the shaft."
Telorn turned and departed silently.
Jacques set foot inside the room.
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