Bobbi just barely catches the other hand in a crucial joint in the palm, splitting it apart.
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"Looks like the puppy left his ears and paws back in the corridor of Alcasti statues," Melicertes says, looking up at the broken statue. "Well done, all. Those animated hands looked creepy."
The brave oracle holds out his spear, advancing into the room, hoping the stone dog is friendly. Spear in one hand, he casts bless on the party.
Melicertes blesses his group, and the guardian dog begins to drag itself down off of the dais to threaten Ijo
Melicertes
’Bobbi’
Ijo Ibn Son (shield, AC +4, 10 rounds)
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Damaged guardian dog (purple)
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Dol
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Crawling hand (red)
Crawling hand (blue)
Melicertes
’Bobbi’
Ijo Ibn Son (shield, AC +4, 9 rounds)
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Damaged guardian dog (purple)
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Dol
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Crawling hand (red)
Crawling hand (blue)
Melicertes, clearly nervous about this close encounter, jabs the spear forward in a token attempt that the mechanical dog easily dodges.
Bobbi jabs the alcasti longspear into its face, knocking several parts loose. Ijo brings his ethereal weapon down on it and just the right spot to knock it's entire head off, and one of it's legs.
The guardian dog begins to fall over for good, but before it lands it explodes, releasing a wave of electricity that spreads outward to at least ten feet!
When the smoke clears, all that remains is silence (and scorch marks on a few of you). You are now out of combat!
Ijo notices that the door in front of you has a keyhole.
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Bobbi relaxes for a moment as the strange dog collapses, then spasms weirdly as their body reacts to the electrical charge, pseudopods forming and absorbing and half-melting a 'hole' in themselves where the bulk of the charge hit -- almost as if their body tried to react to the incoming damage -- before pulling themselves back together.
"OWWWW!" They pant for a moment while checking on the rest of the team and making sure that they don't discombobulate any fiurther.
When Dol lets forth the channels the oozy entity gives a smile of thanks and a 'thumb's up'.
As the team examines the door, Bobbi tries to keep an ear out for anything behind the door. It is a crypt... after all.
Bobbi keeps an eye out but doesn't seem to perceive any further threats on this side of the next door. Ijo finds that the key fits perfectly in and opens it...
This sparse room holds little beyond a lacquered wooden coffin. A human skull sits on a plate in front of the casket, while a mangled clockwork owl lies a few feet away. An engraved plaque is propped up behind the skull against the wooden pall. The smell of corrosion fills the air.
The plaque reads, “Here lies Honaria Alcasti, betrayed by her inferiors and those she served. We shall remember her deeds and restore her honor.” The letters are faded and the plaque appears to be centuries old. Resting next to the plaque is a large hairpin with a noble crest on it.
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Melicertes peers through the open door and into the chamber. "That clockwork owl must be some spell caster's familiar. It looks pretty badly damaged, maybe by a longsword. It's immobile and looks barely able to speak. I don't think it can defend itself."
The aquatic elf sniffs the air, gills rippling. "It's leaking corrosive acid. We probably should take precautions if we get closer. Ten feet's probably a safe distance."
The oracle frowns, puzzling out a possible solution. "We could try to neutralize the acid. Of course, we could just destroy the familiar, but I'd rather not."
"Anybody a construct craftsman? Or we could try to disable the device, or use our skills with magic devices." Melicertes shakes his head. "Not my skill set, I'm afraid."
He looks at his companions. "If one of you can try, I can channel healing to help you cope with the exposure to acid damage."
Ijo takes attempting to fix it, but he can't really figure it out and the acid leak continues. Not only that, but it's quite potent, it seems. Ijo can feel the burn...
Ijo again jumps in to try to work and disable the mechanism but continues to find his focus on avoiding the acid. He takes a little less time this time around to realize it's not working.
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"Okay, let's pull back a bit and see what things we have that MIGHT help, then." Bobbi offers, pulling out their backpack and all the things that are in it:
Alchemist's fire (3), holy water (2), sling, sling bullets, chalk, chalkboard, silk rope, trail rations, two torches, and a waterskin.
"You could also try to use my shield to block some of the acid if you want, it's made of darkwood."
Ijo has his acid-avoidance dance-routine down...
Dol doesn't see anything in the room that would help with this endeavor.
The mechanical owl begins to click and some of the gears higher up in its body begin to whir. Its eyes light up only dimly, and you get a strong suspicion that they would be brighter under normal operation...
It makes a lot of extra noises that sounds like internal parts hitting each other where they are not supposed to.
Tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk conk
Please....hurry... the hollow, raspy voice begs.
Tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk conk
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The clockwork owl is Amantius, the former familiar of Italice Cenabri, a once-prominent adviser to the crown. He tells you the tale of Syagra Tetranella, one of Honaria’s comrades in arms, who, when Honaria Alcasti died in public ignominy, chose Italice as a scapegoat for her rage and sorrow. Syagra assassinated Italice and broke into the tomb, leaving the head as an offering after using one of the swords in the hallway to break past the wards and guardians. Amantius caught up to and tried to confront Syagra in this chamber, but was struck down and left as another twisted offering, and has remained here in a broken state ever since.
He punctuates his answers with black humor, self-recrimination, and violent shaking fits. Though he initially blamed Honaria for Italice’s death as well, his centuries of reflection in her tomb have changed his opinion. Despite his bitterness and despair, he admits that he believes in Honaria’s innocence — though he does not hold a high opinion of Honaria, he does not believe any of this to be something she would have wanted.
Amantius wishes to make the truth of Italice's death known to all, and asks if you would arrange for him (and Italice's skull) to be returned to the Cenabri family.
And what of Italice's remains? I know this was not your original goal in coming here, but I implore you. I can can provide testimony than Honaria had nothing to do with Italice's murder.
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"Of course, Amantius. We would be glad to escort these remains to their rightful resting place, and see you made whole again as well.
Let me say a blessing to put any lingering malice at rest."
If the skull is in this room, Dol will say some words from a Torag burial rite and gently wrap the skull, placing it in his pack. If it is not here, he will ask for directions.
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"We will convey the truth of events that took place here, Amentius, though descendants of Syagra Tetranella and their allies might not want these facts known," Melicertes assures the clockwork owl while conveying his own fears as well.
"Some will no doubt fail to appreciate the revision of history," the aquatic elf says, speaking from personal experience. "Why, my own mother refused to believe it was my younger sister that kept stealing the cookies. It wasn't until Sissie's burgeoning backside let the proverbial cat out of the bag, that my mother caught the real thief."
The oracle shudders at the hurtful memory. "My sister still accuses me of body-shaming her."
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"It's not hard to see where the Chelaxians get their Stupid evil heritage from." Bobbi comments off-handedly, a quiver quaking through their whole form.
"We're a group of explorers, and some of us might even have the resources to get you repaired and/or connected with someone who can. As an Andoran, I'm firmly in the belief that freedom requries disclosure, and the only way to be free of the tyranny of ignorance is to learn as much as you can. So yes, I'm at least willing to share the information with the pertinent parties as you request, Amentius."
They strongly resist the urge to comment on Melicertes' comment about body-shaming. As someone who has a hard enough keeping ANY form, it'd be very easy to snipe back, and that wouldn't do anyone any good right now.
"Thank you, Dol."
Amantius seems slightly more at ease at your acceptance of his request, but imposes the final reminder, I understand it's not easy, that although Honaria was not involved and would not have sanctioned the murderer's actions, it was done in her name. In light of this I appreciate your agreeability to full transparency. As such, he insists that they take the partially charged wand of heightened awareness within his body, as it is the only means he has to repay them for their kindness. He informs the PCs that even if the Cenabri family pays for his repairs, he plans to keep his broken face to remember Italice.
The mechanical owl's eyes dim as he takes clearly needed rest.
The coffin itself contains Honaria's corpse and her accolades, including a very impressive collection of military ribbons and medals that remain in pristine condition. On your return, Remaio is pleased with your efforts, eagerly explaining those that he recognizes and basking in secondhand pride.
