As the others work to open the door, Qina watches briefly until her eyes wander up. Seeing that the keystone of the arch is carved with a flame symbol with a stylized rune in the middle, she calls out "hey Vivian, look at that up there. That would make a cool tattoo, don't you think? Anyone got any chalk?"
Once Brezik gives his thumb's up on the door, Gad'larr will pull/push it open if he can with Brezik's assistance if he needs it.
Stop Let me try...
"Good job Brezik! You're stronger than you look. Now on-wards! Let's get inside out of the rain!"
While Gad and Allister are straining to get the door open Qina is able to climb up them rather quickly and takes a rubbing of the Everflame using some of her writing supplies. Brezik takes his turn with the door and with some grunting and straining he pushes it open, letting out a waft of decay from inside.
As the heavy doors swing open, the faint light from outside reveals a long chamber with risen platforms on either side. A faded painting of Kassen is on the far wall. The room appears to be the site of a gruesome battle, with two bodies piled in the center and a number of skeletons scattered around. An echoing wail can be heard somewhere in the distance, beyond this foul chamber.
Six of the skeletons stand up, brandishing their rusty scimitars and in rusty and broken chain armor.
AC 16, touch 12, flat-footed 14
CMD 14
hp 4
The doors opened and Brezik looked in... Simply entering this place that represented death did not sit well with him. He shook his head banishing the images of his companions bodies being eaten by worms from his head. As he surveyed the room the collection of dead bodies lying scattered around did not do much for his nerves. Then the skeletons rose up from the ground... seeming of their own accord.... around the room did not sit well for him. Adrenaline kicked in and he knew it was fight or flight... and there were too many people between him and the door to run...
Be Brave Brezik... Your'e friends need you to be brave.
Hah... and I thought we were going to have to fight something scary... it's just some dead bodies... don't even have muscles...
How in the name of Torag are they moving without muscles?
Brezik choked up on his war hammer, strode into the center of the room at the top of the stairs and brought his hammer down in a two handed swing meant to scatter the bones of the creature.... Unfortunately he misjudged the difference in heights and the Warhammer whizzed by the creatures face at powerful speeds but made no contact.
Ever since he had spotted the bones under the horse outside a strange feeling had been building in Belathorian, an internal uplifting like nothing he had felt before.
As the doors finally begin to scrape open and the scene beyond becomes clear the feeling becomes almost overwhelming. Belathorian's scythe is suddenly in his hand as he pushes past Viv.
"Die spawn of the Tyrant! Taste Authok's fury! We, the Host, shall not yield!"
The simple scythe comes sweeping around...
...but it is clear that Belatharion is not fully in control. The vicious strike, surely enough to scatter the newly formed creature, cuts just air.
The skeletons shamble forward with the rattle of rusted chain and the *click*click*click* of claw-like toes on stone.
The one closest to Brezik swings with its scimitar and a claw without making much noise.
The skeleton that barely missed being obliterated by Bel does the same, pinpricks of red glowing in its eye sockets burning bright.
The others shamble forward in an attempt to attack the closest living target. One scrambles up to the level the group is on before attacking Vivian.
Gad is also under attack by a rusted scimitar swinging close by his face.
This skeleton must have been something of a powerful warrior for its blade knows just where to strike to slip through his evasions and the invisible armor he wears.
It is Brezik that takes the brunt of the attacks with his bold move forward, soon surrounded by skeletons trying to mercilessly chop him down.
Without looking Belathorian swings the scythe back towards the skeleton that was trying to reach Viv.
But his movements still seem distracted...
Without comment Gad immediately swings into his martial attacks against the skeleton that attacked him.
Full Action: Flurry
+ Flurry Attack
Qina slips back to take cover behind Vivian. She reaches into her pouch and grabs the piece of cured leather as she traces a small shield on her own cheek.
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The paladin sees his friends are in trouble and takes heart. He steps forward and shouts a curse as he swings his blade in a downward slash at the skeleton that just attacked Gad'larr.
"No one hurts my friends, you boner!"
The attack crashes through the skeleton, scattering its broken bones on the crypt floor.
Did I just say boner? I meant bastard...Gods, I hope nobody heard that.
Belathorian bellows in a Boise that the rest of the group hardly recognise
"This ends today necromancer, we shall wade through your hordes and end you!"
Down came the scythe again...
...but again the blow falls wide.
Allister striking down the first skeleton showed that the skeletons could be killed. What's more is Allister had made a pretty good joke. Both actions by the Paladin gave Brezik a little hope.
Good one AL.... He's a made of Bones...
Brezik also Hears Belathorian beginning to make strange pronouncements... he had always been made a little uneasy by Belathorian. His devotion to the goddess of graves had never sat well with Brezik. But the things he was saying made absolutely no sense at all...
What is going on with him? What Necromancer what Hordes? Who is Authok?
The Dwarf took a lower stance and stepped bodily into a swing that squarely struck the skeleton in the chest. Whatever foul magic held these bleached bones together instead of ligments and muscle was disrupted and the skeleton clattered to the ground just a pile of scattered bones.
THAT'S ONE FOR THE DWARF!!!
The adrenaline of combat seems to get to everyone as swings turn wild or miss the vital components of the skeletons. The exception to this is Allister, who shows off his Paladin might by crushing a skeleton with a single blow.
The glowing red pinpricks in the skeletons' eye sockets increase in vibrancy, bathing several of the group in a hellish light. They click their teeth and claws against their armor, their swords, and the floor raising a cacophony that does not drown out the wailing you heard earlier.
The skeletons once again swing at Brezik doing their best to take the dwarf down.
The others attack Vivian and Bel once again, looking for openings with swinging blades and piercing claws.
All blades and claws are scattered by the armor of those attacked, adding to the clicking bones.
Brezik seems to be doing OK, so Gad moves to aid him.
Full Action: Flurry
⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
+ Flurry Attack
⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
One successful hit of his swirling blade and the skeleton finds its spine severed in multiple locations! Smiling despite his wounds,
Gad points at the downed Skeleton next to Bel.
"One for the Monk!"
Qina didn't like the odds surrounding Brezik. She slipped in between Allister and Vivian and hustled over to aid Brezik.
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"On your left" Allister informs Qina as he ungracefully dances around her to the right and puts himself between the skeleton and his Halfling friend.
His greatsword catches what little light illuminates the room and flashes brilliantly before he brings it crashing down on the skeleton's head. "For the Dawnguard!"
The skeleton breaks under his heavy blade. This is a side of Allister the others have not yet seen - he feels at home amid the chaos and violence. No thoughts, only actions and reactions. I will do as you taught me, Lightbringer Naabi.
"I've already lost count" Allister boasts
Though the skeleton assault is relentless the initial rush of battle seems to have worn off as Brezik, Gad, and Allister smash more skeletons to pieces. The eerie clicking of the skeletons begins fading away as only 2 remain.
Qina moves to Brezik's aid, distracting the skeleton from its bloody intent and Belathorian continues to be lost in another time and another life. Vivian, though unable to score on the skeletons is also unharmed herself, and when she will hit the power she brings will destroy more skeletons.
The wailing, though not strong, has still not died off in the distance. The glow of the skeleton's "eyes" has intensified to fist sized rubies, bathing everything in a blood hue.
Brezik starting to feel the energy of the fight smiles and laughs... he realizes that he is unhurt and the vile shadows of life are falling left and right.
Maybe my Fears are un founded... maybe we can do this... maybe we will be great heroes of legend.
As the adrenaline and excitement go to his head the dwarf drops low and swings the hammer in both his hands in an upward arc. The blow a glancing hit... is enough to destroy the skeleton.
That's two for you Allister... and Two for me...Hahaha... two...four two... DO YOU GET IT AL... I SAID FOUR INSTEAD OF FOR... IT'S MATH!!!!
The Dwarf keeps laughing at the incomprehensible joke.
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"HAHAHA, good joke Brezik, my friend. Numbers are funny, and weird too! I mean, why do they just stop after seven? What happens if you need more than that? HAHAHA."
Allister has completely forgotten that there is still another skeleton in the room. In fact, he's forgotten they are in the crypt altogether. He is back in his family home doing his lessons, staring at an equation he will never understand.
Failing to recognize that the skeleton before him has been destroyed, Belathorian scatters whats left of the creature with a sweeping strike. Whatever had possessed him seems to be fading, his movements seem more natural.
The final Skelton still dies not recognize its impending doom, but attacks Vivian with the same ferocity as before, this time scoring a blow with its claw like finger bones.
Again, 5 Foot Step and Flurry again with the Broadsword against the one on Bel.
Full Action: Flurry
+ Flurry Attack
Finally finding his groove, Gad tears the remaining Skeleton to pieces!
"That is two for the Monk!"
Well done Gad... That means Two Four Three... wait... that's not funny at all... Two four two four two... no that doesn't work either... Gad you ruined the Joke! ...Eh... good work killing the creature any ways...
Gad shakes his head and smiles at Brezik as he tries to staunch his fresh wound.
"My friend. Your humor can be a challenge in itself! I must be BONE-headed not to get it. Get it? Bone-headed? Hehehe."
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Vivian stretches out her mace arm a bit, rubbing a place where the skeleton got under a scale. "Great work everyone! I must admit, it all started off a bit uneasy but we really got swinging once we warmed up!"
She then notches her mace onto her belt and holds her shield in both hands, taking one knee on the ground. "Gorum, thank you for guiding our iron and steel in this quest for the Everflame. Your gifts of war have given us strength." Those wounded then feel their wounds healing, aches receding.
Before standing, "..and please guide my mace more agressively so I can catch up in the kill count.. Ahem! Alright!" Vivian stands enthused.
Brezik laughs Heartily at Gad'larr's joke genuinely trying to make sure the half-orc feels included even though Allister had already used the boner joke to describe the skeletons.
Poor guy has the worst sense of humor.
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Allister snaps out of his memory and recalls his friend Belathorian seeming almost possessed during the fight. "Bel, you seemed to...well...I don't know. Are you alright?" He uses on his friend to make sure he has not changed for the worse in some sinister way.
"Well fought, friends. Our light shines-" he is cut short by the eerie wail that echoes through the crypt now that their fight has ended, "-what is that?" A cold chill runs down his spine and Allister tries to act casual as he shuffles closer to his friends.
After a few moments he secures his greatsword to his back, then removes his short sword from its sheath and begins to pick through the skeleton remains and piles of rubbish in the room. Allister searches for anything of value or interest, but does it as though he is brushing away spiderwebs in disgust. Each time the wailing sound returns he jumps.
As the battle drew to a close, Qina realized that her hands were hurting. She looked down and her knuckles were white. She instantly flashed back to her dreams and she was suddenly more scared than she was moments before. She relaxed her hands and let the blood return while she started to look around. With everyone safe and the skeletons no longer a threat, she wiped the sweat from her brow. As her hands returned to their normal color, she wondered aloud "do you think that's normal? For the skeletons to be here I mean. Could they have killed the horses?"
Trying to understand the skeletons and their strange reaction to the wailing noise, Gad tries to remember
everything he knows about this tomb, walking skeletons, and undead in general...
"Something's going on. Why did their eyes glow like that? These skeletons are too old, not new to be..."
Gad recognizes the corpses as Gerol and Vark, friends of the mayor. The bodies are badly mauled by sword and claw. With them are a couple of backpacks containing
- 1 large pillow
- 2 quivers with 10 blunt arrows each
- 2 days of rations
- A full waterskin
- 2 smokesticks
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Allister picks up the waterskin and 2 days of rations. "I'll carry these. Vivian, maybe you should carry the smokesticks so nobody can see you miss. HAHAHA. That's what happens when you chop trees." Realizing almost immediately that the words were not funny, but hurtful, he says "sorry, Vivian."
With downcast eyes he kicks at the dirt and dust on the crypt floor and readies himself to continue onward.
"Even more pillows...and blunt arrows? Do you think they knew about the skeletons? Maybe that's why they brought the blunt arrows?" She began to chew on her fingernails. "Why the pillows? This doesn't make any sense..."
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Vivian glares at Allister and gives him a sarcastic, snotty fake laugh with her nose bunched up and tongue half sticking out. Then pulls out her mace, "On me, let's get answers. Unless you're scared of the dark and a few skeletons."
She then starts to walk towards the next room with her shield up and mace ready, unknowing that she taunted Allister with an actual fear of his. Viv feels like she needs to prove her strength to the group now more than ever.
This large chamber contains a maze of pillars that obscure the far side of the room. Next to the door is a pile of empty saddlebags and three brooms.
Per SOP, Brezik is the first one to enter the room searching for traps and other deadly devices. There is nothing worth noting in the room other than the door to the south.
Before we head out to the east, Gad will glance in the western exit first, just to make sure we don't miss anything obvious.
The shadows from the various light sources are tossed about eerily because of the pillars, creating several after images.