As the three of you started to look around, five skeletons erupted out of the largest pile of seaweed. Four held greataxes, and one - clearly the leader - had a scimitar instead. Taking advantage of the moment of surprise, all five skeletons closed in on you...
HP: 53/78 [Mythic Power 2/6][Lay on Hands 3/4][Performance 15/15][Rage 0/6][Legendary Power 2/2] | AC: 25, T: 15, FF: No (22), | Fort: +11, Reflex: +8, Will: +10 (raged +12) (+2 vs Charm/Compulsion)| CMB: +7, CMD: 20 | Init: +5, Perception: +8 | Condition: None
Skeletons? Beseth looked puzzled, could she have been reacting to the skeletons? She wasn't sure, but now wasn't the time to wonder that, it was the time to destroy these foul creatures.
Remember, if you don't specify which one you're aiming at, I get to choose. ^^
The one with the scimitar deflected Hadran's blow, shoving his weapon to the side just in time to get slammed straight in the face by Beseth's shield. The piercing spike seemed to be having a hard time hurting the bones, but damage was done. Meanwhile, Mak was busy pounding on one of the other skeletons, though only his unarmed strike got through. It wasn't quite enough to drop the creature - and all five of the skeletons began lashing out as effectively as they could - starting with the one wielding a scimitar.
Midfoviing, seeing the creatures, hissed slightly - but remained near the door, apparently to try and stop any of them from escaping (and assaulting the not-quite-sane man in the previous chamber).
The Stalwart Peak winces as one of the skeletons' weapons grazes him, but manages to avoid most of the blow. Regaining his balance, he retaliates at the skeleton that hit him.
Makallun'abad uses Swift Claws against the skeleton who hit him (standard action).
Hadran's sword connected with the apparent leader of the skeletons, cutting through several of its ribs and sending them scattering across the floor. Mak's fists shot out a moment later, hitting his target in the middle of its ribcage and on its spine, between the ribcage and pelvis - and it completely blew apart under the force of the blows. That left Beseth, managing a small scratch on the injured foe, and it stumbled slightly before regaining its footing - and all four of the surviving undead lashed out with all the power they could muster.
Despite their best efforts, none of the Skeletons had quite managed to strike this time - Beseth was able to bash each greataxe aside with her shields, while Mak's stance helped him sidestep a blow and Hadran's empowered sword caught the shaft of his opponent's weapon and pushed it aside before it could come down.
HP: 53/78 [Mythic Power 2/6][Lay on Hands 3/4][Performance 15/15][Rage 0/6][Legendary Power 2/2] | AC: 25, T: 15, FF: No (22), | Fort: +11, Reflex: +8, Will: +10 (raged +12) (+2 vs Charm/Compulsion)| CMB: +7, CMD: 20 | Init: +5, Perception: +8 | Condition: None
Lay on hands:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 201d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 No saves verses lay on hands, I had to check to be sure, also not positive I get the trait bonus when not using it to heal, but I included it.
With her shields proving ineffective weapons against these foes, Beseth decides to try another tactic, dropping her lighter shield, and calling divine energies into her hand, she lunges into one of the weaker, unharmed skeletons and lets loose her divine power.
@Beseth: It could probably be read either way, but sure, feel free to apply that extra point to both healing and damage vs undead. ^^
Hadran's blow connected, and several more bones were blown across the floor - but the undead didn't fall. Meanwhile, the undead Beseth struck quite literally blew apart as positive energy surged through its body and overcame the flickering strength it had left. Mak hammered into the other skeleton attacking him, and its body shook - but like the leader, it didn't fall.
Silent as the grave, the walking bones continued their attacks - and despite the way the tide was quickly turning against them, they showed no fear at all.
Beseth was able to ward off a blow, but Hadran and Mak weren't quite so fortunate, as first the scimitar-wielding one stabbed deep into Hadran's side, then a heavy axe bit into the Stalwart Peak's shoulder.
Makallun'abad grunts in pain before grabbing the haft of the skeleton's weapon with his left hand, before slamming his other hand directly into its solar plexus.
Makallun'abad uses Pommel Strike on the skeleton that hit him (standard action).
Mak wasted no time at all in pounding the last of his enemies to pieces, scattering its bones across the floor. The one wielding the scimitar was blown apart a moment later under the force of Hadran's strike, and Beseth...
Will:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
...sent a surge of positive energy into her own target, though it managed to resist most of the damage before swinging out at her again.
Greataxe (Beseth):1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Its weapon bounced off of her shield a moment later, and together, the three of you were quickly able to put the last skeleton down and clear the room of enemies. A particularly strong wave washed in a moment later, sending cold water over your feet before it drained out the side.
The regular waves seem to have washed away most of what this room once had. Yet there are a few items of interest... including the looseness of the sarcophagus on the northern side of the room. Well, looseness is relative - it's still solid stone and very heavy, like all the others, but not on quite as tightly. There's really no telling what's in any of the stone burial chambers, though - you'd have to open them to find out.
Make a Strength check if there are any you'd like to pop open.
HP: 53/78 [Mythic Power 2/6][Lay on Hands 3/4][Performance 15/15][Rage 0/6][Legendary Power 2/2] | AC: 25, T: 15, FF: No (22), | Fort: +11, Reflex: +8, Will: +10 (raged +12) (+2 vs Charm/Compulsion)| CMB: +7, CMD: 20 | Init: +5, Perception: +8 | Condition: None
Strength:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Moving over to the sarcophagus, Beseth tries to lift the stone face, but cannot muster up enough strength. "Can you guys help me with this, I feel like we need to get this thing open."
The sarcophagus lid slides aside with the sound of a grinding millstone. The well-preserved body of a young girl lies inside, stringy black hair obscuring the face. Her atrophied limbs are drawn up like folded sticks against her torn school uniform. One hand is tightly clenched, and on it she's wearing a two-fingered ring that glints slightly red in the dim light of the chamber.
Makallun'abad frowns, hands resting on his hips. "I don't believe disturbing the body will make anyone happy," he posits. "Bringing her back her dead daughter, when she is resting peacefully here, seems like it would crush the poor woman. Simply returning the ring is likely a much less unpleasant plan."
HP: 53/78 [Mythic Power 2/6][Lay on Hands 3/4][Performance 15/15][Rage 0/6][Legendary Power 2/2] | AC: 25, T: 15, FF: No (22), | Fort: +11, Reflex: +8, Will: +10 (raged +12) (+2 vs Charm/Compulsion)| CMB: +7, CMD: 20 | Init: +5, Perception: +8 | Condition: None
"I agree with Mak, we have no reason to disturb this girl's body, the woman will be satisfied with the ring." Beseth says, adding a quick prayer for the girl before taking her ring.
Midfoviing hopped over - now that the door didn't seem to need guarding - and put both hands on the edge of the sarcophagus as she leaned in to look at the girl's body. The end of her tail flicked back and forth a few times before suddenly going still. Then, looking curious, she poked Junia's cheeks a few times as Beseth retrieved the ruby salamander ring that the three of you had been asked to find.
Midfoviing's tail curled up slightly. "Deceased is what happens when you stop breathing, right?" she asked, sounding a little confused. Her knowledge of the world was incomplete at best - and she seemed to be asking honestly, rather than rhetorically.
The Stalwart Peak runs a hand through his hair, sighing. "Yes, child. This girl died years ago, and she now rests here eternally. When we return the ring to her mother, she will likely be contented to know she has been buried properly."
Oh man, I see the double meaning of that question.
HP: 53/78 [Mythic Power 2/6][Lay on Hands 3/4][Performance 15/15][Rage 0/6][Legendary Power 2/2] | AC: 25, T: 15, FF: No (22), | Fort: +11, Reflex: +8, Will: +10 (raged +12) (+2 vs Charm/Compulsion)| CMB: +7, CMD: 20 | Init: +5, Perception: +8 | Condition: None
"It's a little bit more then just not breathing." Beseth explains to the odd girl. "Your heart stops beating, your brain stops thinking, you stop being part of this world, your body may remain, but without your spirit it is nothing but a lifeless husk."
Midfoviing nodded as Makallun'abad and Aer'Besethir explained the situation. "Well, she started breathing when Bes took that ring off, so I don't think she'd dead anymore." she said, poking Junia's cheek again.
Makallun'abad blinks once, then twice, his jaw going slack. "She what?" he mananges to ask, a thoroughly inquisitive look on his face as he turns to Midfoviing.
HP: 53/78 [Mythic Power 2/6][Lay on Hands 3/4][Performance 15/15][Rage 0/6][Legendary Power 2/2] | AC: 25, T: 15, FF: No (22), | Fort: +11, Reflex: +8, Will: +10 (raged +12) (+2 vs Charm/Compulsion)| CMB: +7, CMD: 20 | Init: +5, Perception: +8 | Condition: None
Heal; Untrained:1d20 + 0 ⇒ (8) + 0 = 8
"What do you mean she's breathing, why would someone place a breathing girl inside of a sarcophagus? Beseth asks as she checks to see if the girl is indeed alive.
After a few moments of careful observation, Beseth is finally able to pinpoint the nature of the ring's enchantments - it seems to be an unusually ornate Ring of Sustenance, capable of providing a mortal body with life-supporting nourishment for an indefinite period of time. They take quite some time to begin working - now that it's off of Junia's fingers, it would take another week to start affecting her again.
Unfortunately, neither the ring's presence nor its removal explains why the girl continues to lie unmoving within the coffin.
HP: 53/78 [Mythic Power 2/6][Lay on Hands 3/4][Performance 15/15][Rage 0/6][Legendary Power 2/2] | AC: 25, T: 15, FF: No (22), | Fort: +11, Reflex: +8, Will: +10 (raged +12) (+2 vs Charm/Compulsion)| CMB: +7, CMD: 20 | Init: +5, Perception: +8 | Condition: None
"Well, that explains how she could still be alive, this appears to be a ring of sustenance, but it doesn't explain why she wasn't breathing until I removed the ring." Beseth says, thinking aloud.
"I want to try something…" She adds before slipping the ring on herself.
Makallun'abad looks pensive. "I suppose that might be fine? It's one thing to bring a woman the body of her dead child, but another entirely if she never died in the first place."
"Something is not right still. The child would be too weak to get into this sarcophagus alone. Something put here her, buy why. Why did they keep here. She wouldn't be able to get out either for the lid was very heavy. Midfoviing can you please watch over her. I feel something may be displeased with us disturbing it's prize and we may soon find what was keeping her here. Let us have a look around."
Midfoviing's tail started flicking back and forth much faster as Hadran gave her a mission, and she nodded firmly as he started looking around the area. However, there don't seem to be any other exits within the chamber, not spirits of any kind. As Hadran searched, his companion quietly focused on the girl's body, eventually holding a hand over it and focusing - some kind of energy sank into Junia's body, but the girl didn't respond, and Midfoviing blinked in confusion even as she continued to stand guard.
"Midfoviing is strong. Carrying a body is no problem." she said confidently, bending down and picking up Junia's body. There continued to be no reaction from the unmoving body. "...I tried healing her, but it didn't do anything." she added, sounding a bit bothered. "I don't know why she won't wake up."
