Shirish marks the entrance of the spiders, and considers that her attacks have little great effect on the creature she is currently fighting, and perhaps tackling the disgusting arachnids.
RD 4 AC 10 DR/1 HP26/26 Rage 10/10
Spitting and cussing as he hauls himself into a fighting stance, Tararr lets the anger fuel his battle lust. Moving toward the nearest beast the barbarian attempts to cleave it in two.
Recovering from his violent expulsion from the chimney, Tararr steps forward and delivers a damaging blow to a jakalwere and Chitleen lands in the hearth behind him. Shirish continues battling her wounded jackalwere, but the beast resists the damage receiving only a bruise instead of a deathblow. Surak, however, finishes it with a mortal slice from his cold iron sword.
Jostled by Chitleen, Daeron misses his shot and the remaining jackalwere turns his ineffective fury on Tararr as a wave of fist-sized spiders hits.
RD5 AC10 DR/1 HP 22/26 Rage 9/10
Tararr shrugs off the biting arachnids and continues his all out assault on the injured jackalman.
Surak steps back again, while drawing one of his javelins. He tosses it at the were currently engaged in melee with Tararr.
Round 5:
Chitleen sees the spiders and his thoughts immediately turn to his acids "Turn your eyes at the throw, I would not rob your sight..." retrieving and throwing a vial into the midst of the beasts in a smooth action.
Daeron seeks out the lone jackal, carefully firing off the arrow as to avoid pin-cushioning Tarrar.
Tararr misses his swing as a spider crawls over his face. Chitleen's expert bomb toss a moment later helps though as acid sprays over the swarm frying hundreds of the creepy crawlies and the swarm disburses.
The remaining jackalwere shrieks as it burns, but remains standing through the rain of blows and javelins and an injury from a cold iron arrow. Hard pressed the man-beast falls upon Tararr biting the mad dwarf's shoulder.
Across the room, the great metal sarcophagus slams shut and the wizard disappears inside.
Shirish, unaware of the movement further in the cabin, appears to be losing steam as she continues to lash assault upon assault on the enemy that will not go down!
RD6 AC 10 DR/1 HP 18/26 Rage 8/10
With a roar of protest Tararr cranks his axe back up on a return swing.
Tararr's backhand removes the incongruous jackal head from the humanoid body.
Tararr bask in the fountain of blood geysering from the headless body as itt drops to it's knees. Quickly scanning the room for any further threat with wild eyes, the dwarf finally allows the blood lust to cease. Breathing heavily, he glances around to ensure his team is all still standing. "Where did all those stinkin' spiders come from?", he says as gives the head sitting at feet a punt.
Surak gasps as the seriousness of his wounds finally sinks in. He touches his holy symbol as he channels positive energy to heal twice. "That is all of the channeling I can do today. I still have one spell of doom prepared, but I need to use that now to heal myself, I believe."
Chitleen steps out of the hearth and forwards to where the sound of steel slamming shut was heard. He casts his eyes into the gloom...
Perception:
With the jackalweres killed, you have time to take in the room. The room's most distinctive feature is an enormous sarcophagus at the opposite end of the room, standing nearly thirteen feet high. The front of the massive metal coffin depicts a horrible visage like a horned tiger. The monster's eyes are the source of the rooms glow as fire crackles behind the mask's eyes. You wonder how the robed figure that just disappeared inside could survive.
Four fifteen foot stone pillars support the vaulted ceiling, each of them containing an alcove, approximately ten feet above the floor. These alcoves each contain a lifelike statue of a winged humanoid, glowering toward the center of the room. Two heavy iron doors stand in the west wall; they are locked, barred, and held in place with iron spikes. The fireplace dominates the southern wall. Several decorative sarcophagi stand along the walls, along with some cobwebbed shelves.
Chitleen takes in the sights and ponders...
Knowledge (Arcana):
Knowledge (Dungeoneering):
Knowledge (Nature):
...before adding in words "We should step warily here friends... we do not know what lingers still..."
I believe we should secure this room and ensure there are no more threats lingering about. Avoiding transversing through the middle, shall we start with the west wall?
Knowledge(Religion):
"I agree with the elf. Somethin' ain't right about this place."
"A moment brothers" Chitleen pauses to apply his painful tincture and after a few moments bent in pain, he rises with pupils dilated and nostrils flared.
Chitleen takes position at the head of the group investigating the room, eyes scanning and nostrils flaring... searching for both danger and the elusive scent of incense.
Chitleen leads the way around the chamber finding the smaller ornate caskets apparently looted from lost tombs and currently empty. You safely reach the opposite end of the room and the giant sarcophagus. Chitleen notes that the flames seen behind the eyes must be illusory as they give off no heat. It does not appear trapped.
Surak mutters prayers for guidance, while touching his holy symbol. He taps Chitleen on the shoulder, then Daeron, Shirish, and Tararr, repeating the process periodically.
Spending a few moments inspecting the large sarcophagus Chitleen turns to the others "Shall we attempt to force the portal? I cannot see any reason for pause..."
Shirish shakes her head, and picks up a piece of her loose armor, hoping that it is indication enough of her desire to pause for a while.
"I have only one blessing remaining that I can call for today, other than these small prayers. And I cannot use it to heal. If we proceed, it must be carefully."
"Let us hold here for a moment. We need to replace our armor if we are to venture any further into this place. They know we are here. No need to hurry now.",says Tararr as he begins to don his chainmail again.
Chitleen nods without turning back, waiting in place for the armor wearers to re-garb. Turning instead to Daeron, he asks "What do you make of it brother?"
After replacing his protective vestments, Tararr pulls a vile from his belt and downs it. A wave of healing energy washes over him leaving him refreshed."I have one more of these and I suggest the whichever of ya who needs it most ta be usin' it." Tararr offers up the last of his potions to the group.
As the armored restore their protective equipment, Chitleen pulls open the heavy lid/door of the standing sarcophagus. Inside he finds the top holds a pair of ever burning torches where the eye openings would be and the bottom half is separated in the form of a 6' tall by 5' deep and wide empty chamber.
After seeing to the last strap of her scale mail, Shirish gently touches Chitleen's shoulder and carefully surveys the interior of the sarcophagus for any danger.
Shirish finds a false panel in the side of the floorless metal chamber. When slid aside, it reveals a lever. The lever may be trapped as she spots a suspicious little hole in the handle.
Nodding to Shirish that he sees it also, Chitleen cautiously looks over the lever...
Disable Device:
...attempting to render whatever foul mechanism may be present harmless - or at least safely disgorged.
Seeing that the pair are working on what may be a trap, Tararr keeps watch on the rest of the chamber.
Chitleen jams the hole to block the needle so the lever can be safely used.
Chitleen leans in to pull the lever, hoping that it will replace the floor of the internal chamber for them to clamber onto. If it does, he turns to his fellows and smiles "Shall we?"
It immediately becomes clear that Chitleen's work was not as complete as he thought for he feels a sharp jab as the needle shoots past the block into his hand.
Fort Save:
Chitleen feels the dart penetrate his skin and the poison begin to course... but is able to overcome it.
Keeping himself close to the center of the party, Daeron watches on as the Chitleen finds himself stung.
Shirish sighs when Chitleen is stung by the needle.
"Maybe next time a plate to cover?" she suggests
Shirish appears to mutter something in private to Chitleen, shrugs and then creeps forward, a few paces ahead of the rest, as quietly as possible.
Chitleen winces, but doesn't appear otherways effected by the barb. There is a small grinding noise and the floor of the chamber rises up the shaft to settle flush with the floor providing a platform to carry you below. Shirish declares it safe and leads the way onto the platform.
Whispering back slightly louder with some degree of frustration and not attempting to hide his words "By all means, feel free to take my place at risk if you have so many suggestions." giving a grandiose bow and ushering Shirish before him onto the platform.
He follows at the rear of the group, before functioning the lever once more to likely send them downwards.
The elevator descends about 25 feet into darkness. Those with darkvision find themselves in a room similar in layout to the one above. However, the dusty trappings of this room resemble a blasted alchemical lab.
Scattered tables are flung around amidst the shattered pieces of vials, alembics, and ceramic mortars. Four more sarcophagi stand against the pillars and there is a door across the room. Freshening the long disused chamber is the faintest whiff of Yamuun.
Shirish's eyes widen. "Do not touch any of the jars," she says, primarily, to the new members of the party.
Shirish investigates if there is any method to ensure that the sarcophogi remain closed, perhaps using a number of her spikes and a hammer...
Perception:
Craft (Alchemy):
Supplanted from his role as trapfinder and scout, Chitleen remains towards the back and scans the debris, attempting to make sense of the chaos... or at least sniff out anything of worth.