Surak prays for guidance, and looks around to see if he can tell which way their quarry went.
"What do ya suppose this place is used fer, Chitleen?"
The elevator descends about 25 feet into darkness.
Lampus! A series of small glowing orbs surround the elevator as Daeron moves himself to the center of the group where he feels it is the most safest. Disadvantaged by the lack of extra sensory abilities of darkvision or scent, Daeron keeps mostly mum, trying his best not step on anyone's toes.
Daeron's cantrip adds some light to aid your investigation. The equipment is so damaged and aged that it is hard to say what experiments occurred here. Perhaps the vanished owner was seeking to reproduce the famed sun orchid elixir. Perhaps he experimented with something darker or at least the lab is now used for more nefarious purposes.
Shirish finds that the four gilded coffers are already latched closed. There is one table properly repaired and standing. Ominously it has restraints and is stained with dried blood. Chitleen finds the scent of incense is stronger toward the back of the room.
"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 cautiously strides through the wreckage towards where the scent is strongest. "I cannot tell the purpose of the alchemic items... but I would wager they are not useful for much now."
"I like not the looks of this," Shirish rumbles and curls her snout away from the dried blood on the table. "May I suggest we leave the sarcophagus closed?"
Chitleen takes a look at the seams of the sarcophagi's lids... trying to determine if they have been recently opened or disturbed.
Perception: Take 10 for 24
Chitleen's enhanced nostrils detect the scent of death over the incense that wafts through the room as he leans forward to inspect a sarcophagus. Traces of corrosion have flaked off the edge of the lid revealing recent use.
The elf starts as he hears a faint feral growl within the thick coffer and frenzied scratching against the lid. Fortunately, the slender clasp holds for the moment.
"What the...is this Wizard MAKING jackalmen, or merely trapping them?"
"It matters not. It is time to handle this and quickly. Orc, you and I need to for a line and hold fer the less stout ones." Tararr says as he readies himself for another round of attacks.
"I have a name, little one," Shirish growls in return as she falls into step beside tararr, shield raised to defend.
Chitleen turns back to Tararr with a raised eyebrow "I'm sorry, you want me to let this thing out?" said with a slight incredulous air.
Daeron renews his illumination cantrip as the party hunches over the occupied sarcophagus.
We should choose our battles wisely and not be eager to face every single foe we face. Be aware of our surroundings and I will look for something to lash this coffer closed. With that small a clasp I would not rely on it to confine within the animal inside. Then with our backs safe we should proceed beyond the door.
"A creature lying flat in a sarcophagus would be an easy target if we surrounded it and threw the lid open."
It will require cutting Shirish's hemp rope in half, but with some time Daeron can stealthily secure the lids to two of the four coffins.
"My mind is with Daeron... we should not invite a fight that can be avoided." the elf then assists his kin in securing the sarcophagus.
"Then make yer work quick. But, if these come a callin' from behind while we are handlin' business later it ain't gonna be my fault."
Pondering how to secure the other sarcophagi, Daeron points out the leather straps on the work table could be scavenged to tie down another one. It takes a while, but eventually you feel the third coffin is secured.
"Well, that wizard should have been able to summon all of the Abyss in the time that took."
Glancing at the uncouth dwarf barbarian Daeron replies, I shall duly receive my thanks from you once you realize the retreat is covered after you've started looking for it. Meanwhile I suggest we dispatch the final unsecured coffer with overwhelming force. This is where brute force is needed rather than caution, would you agree Tarrar?
Daeron moves to the last unsecured coffer, with readied adamantine dagger in hand.
Grinning, Tararr replies, "And I'll be happy to make that retreat a possibility, elf." With that the dwarf grips his axe with both hands and begins preparing himself to assault the occupant of the last casket.
Before the sarcophagus is opened, surak briefly touches his companions shoulders, praying for both guidance and vigor. He starts with Tararr, and works his way through Daeron, Shirish, and Chitleen, before praying for himself.
Following the desires of Tararr and Daeron, though against his own instincts, and violently yanks open the final sarcophagus...
In one quick motion, Chitleen unclasps and open the coffin. Inside is the body of a man dressed in rags. He is not mummified, but gaunt and covered in fresh sores that bleed freely. His eyes are open but filled with blood and rage as the corpse lunges at the closest living being- Chitleen!
Chitleen
Tararr
Daeron
Surak
Shirish
Dead Beggar
Confident on defeating the undead quickly, Daeron plunges his adamantine dagger into the decaying flesh.
attack with flank?:
damage:
Shirish moves to assist Chitleen with the creature attacking him.
"That is more like it!"
Round 1:
After Chitleen opens the sarcophagus he attempts to bring his borrowed blade to bear...
Cold-Iron Longsword: for
...though his strike is weak and lacks vigor.
Chitleen nearly drops his weapon as the creature lurches for him. Shirish is quick to his defense however gouging the creatures abdomen and releasing a torrent of bloody puss. Daeron stabs into the sarcophagus as well flensing diseased flesh off the side of the skull.
The hungry dead is undeterred however and clubs Chitleen about the head, grabbing and biting into the poor elves throat.
Round 2:
Chitleen almost instantly goes limp in the undead beast's grasp. Tararr senses that his last act of defiance against the closing dark was to stare daggers at him...
Surak sees his companion fall, and gestures, causing the bleeding to stop before he even hits the ground, suddenly snoring peacefully. He then raises his crossbow, trying to aim at the undead creature.
xx
xZ)
xx
Shirish, seeing the life filter from Chitleen's eyes, takes a full offensive round to end the unlife of the creature threatening her companion.
Shirish cleaves through the dead thing's skull destroying it and spraying the entire group in gore. Like a fever, rage suddenly burns though you.
01–25 Act normally.
26–50 Do nothing but babble incoherently.
51–75 Deal 1d8 points of damage + Str modifier to self with item in hand.
76–100 Attack nearest living conscious creature
Fort Save:
Confused:
Chitleen's insensate brows furrow for a fleeting moment, before relaxing back into blissful ignorance.
Fort:
The sprayed gore incites a supernatural rage that wells and gushes forth from the usually mild Daeron. Hatred seizes his own hand and the adamntine dagger pierces his own lithe thigh.
damage:
Not even noticing the effects of the things blood, Tararr is shocked to see the orc warrior smash into the creature with such power with a little tone of respect in his voice, Tararr says,"About time you live up to your heritage." Glancing at the downed elf and one with a dagger in his own leg he adds, "Same goes for you two. I think that ya could learn a thing or two from the girl." Moving to Daeron's side he places a hand on the tweaking elf's shoulder and speaking in a tone much more warm and fatherly than any of his companions have ever heard, he says"Easy, son. I've seen that rage in new splitter's an' gets a mighty strong grip on 'em that ain't used to it. Find yer center now."
One the elf has relaxed, Tararr will attempt to apply some first aid.
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