"I see nowhere else to go from this passageway; looks like there's nothing for it but to bash our way through that door, and come what may from the noise." Rennai walks back to the door. "Auric, come here; I'll help you try to push through again."
Kayla looks around by candlelight, but finds little new to discover...
"So the first chamber is alarmed, but this door is not? Then let us have at it!"
Kalla's vigor is impressive, as she heaves against the door alongside Auric and over Rennai...
[EDIT] - I *think* I know what happened. I remembered that initially Kalla was going to look around so I added the Perception roll in afterwards, above the Aid Another. Which seems to have taken the roll, and then added a new roll to the second [dice] field. That is...interesting to know. I might contact Website Feedback, and see if they are aware of this...[/EDIT]
Offering Auric the crowbar Euraphen shrugs, Care to give it a whirl?
Auric accepts the crowbar, and together the three of them have at the door once again.
The three work together on the heavy rusted door. They strain for some time, then work the door with powerful shoves and pulls. Eventually wood splinters and iron creaks. The door breaks open and swings into the darkness of an open room.
Surprised to see the skeletal figure Euraphen holds up his hand to stay his comrades, then puts a finger to his lips. As the elf's eyes take in the contents of the room he whispers, This doesn't feel right.Turning to Kalla Euraphen describes what he sees, There is a large circular chamber. At the center sits the skeleton of an ancient warrior. Looking over his shoulder he states to the others, Better have Rose take a look before we enter.
Rennai lets out a low sound, almost a growl, at the sight of the skeleton. "I agree. Let her see what magic may rest here before we enter." Her next words are almost inaudible. "And pray it's no foul necromancy."
"My thanks Eru." Kalla whispers, gripping her spear somewhat tightly.
Auric edges forward. He is eager to follow the girl's trail, but waits for the others to inspect the room first.
Rose gives the others a small smile. "Wise choice. It'll be just a moment." Walking slowly towards the room, she ducks down under the door. The tall witch once again murmurs words in a forgotten language, her eyes swelling with darkness, as she begins staring at the throne and the sarcophagus. I wonder what marvels hide in this tomb... Is this the famed Caragthax? I'd have expected a much grander tomb..., she ponders, looking around the various elements in the cave.
As the witch's eyes look over the room, Eurphen adds, I can see the girl's foot prints. They lead almost directly to the chair and then, ends. There is a sarcophagus behind the stone chair, perhaps... He does not finish his conjecture but allows his companions to fill in the blanks, besides, with Rose here, the elf realizes the room is now light.
What do you make of those doors Rennai?
The skeleton on the chair doesn't appear to be undead. It looks more like decoration, or an old guardian that died at his or her post millennia ago.
The doors do not appear to have any historical significance.
Rode detects two magical auras. Both are faint transmutation auras. Most likely magic weapon or magic armor, centered on the skeleton.
"Not sure yet. Before everyone's walking through, let me see if I can see any of the girl's tracks, figure out where she may have gone after getting under the door."
I can see the girl's foot prints. They lead almost directly to the chair and then, ends.
Euraphen follows Rennai into the chamber, his keen elven eyes also seeking answers to the mystery of the girls tracks. Along the way, he tries to remember having read anything relating to the markings on the chair and sarcophagus or the armor and weapon clutched in the skeleton's hands.
"Hmmm. How interesting...", says Rose out loud, before turning, surprised to the rest, and says, "It would appear that the skeleton's weapons or armor are magical in nature. Such items could provide an edge... If they're not cursed. I see nothing else that would be of any magical significance.", she finishes.
Walking slowly in the room, she turns to the others. "Let us find the girl, so that we can return to the real matter at hand."
Kalla gingerly follows Rose, keeping close and ready to strike at rising bones or dust-devils, or ....anything.
"Yes. The real matter at hand indeed. Let us discern the true nature of enchantments' herein...and then find the girl. I liketh this place.... [peering around] not at all."
Following the muddy tracks, the elf cautiously advances to the center of the chamber. The hammer may glow for Rose's eyes but I have a bad feeling about it. There is an evil taint about its design and markings, I will not touch it. Looking up, Euraphen wonders if perhaps the girl was lifted away or...his eyes shoot back to the floor, Did she fall further?
"I too like it not, friend," Rennai mutters to Kalla. She takes a few steps into the room, her bow in her hand and her eyes flitting back and forth to take in all the doors, but fixing mostly on the armed skeleton. "Conri, to me." The wolf pads softly forward, taking position next to Rennai. "Eyes open, pup."
Kalla moves equidistant to Rennai and Eru.
"Alright my friends, let's stay tight, and alert."
Full Round Action: Create Cast - this includes Eru and Rennai...
Refusing to give in to his growing sense of forboding, Auric lights his own torch follows the girl's tracks to where they vanish then marches around the skeletal guardian. He peers up to the ceiling, then pokes around the floor with the butt of his spear. He waves his torch near the ground, peering under the throne. Finally, he raps his weapon lightly on the top of the sarcophagus itself.
Eruaphen looks down at the tracks and the stone beneath them, but no traps appear anywhere. The disappearing tracks are quite puzzling.
Auric lights up a torch and looks around the room, first at the tracks, then up at the ceiling and pokes at the floor. The ceiling is also stone, cut in a rudimentary way, from what looks like a natural cavern. Some stalactites drip down a few feet here and there.
Rose sighs at Eruaphen's comment, rolling her eyes. "Might it occur sometimes, that appearances are just that, appearances, dear?", she begins walking towards the chair calmly and slowly. "And, as we all know, appearances can be deceiving. It is entirely possible that the hammer's owner merely was looking after the intimidating effect of such sculpture and design."
Standing next to the chair, she continues, "Though misguided, your cautiousness is indeed wise. I wouldn't use the magical tool in question until I was sure of it's properties, since, well.", she smiles at the group, "Curses are something I am vastly familiar with."
She turns her gaze at the throne again, looking curiously at the designs and lay lines of the magical auras in question. Transmutation. The arcane school of change. How narrow in theory, yet how broad in practice. Wizardry and its rules and schools... Need everything be organized and precise? Does a bit of mystery not pique the curiosity of students?, she is carried away in her thoughts as she hums a tune, pitch black eyes staring through the room.
...Auric continues to search the room, heading towards the skeleton on the throne as Rose approaches as well. She walks up towards the throne, certain that she has a keener understanding than Auric. She begins her monologue, and inner monologue, just as her and Auric notice the same terrifying scene:
The hooded skeleton's hanging head rises to meet their gaze with a black eyeless stare. It's hanging bone jaw closes with a a clack, creating a toothy, skinless smile.
Holding back his urge to gag, Euraphen tries to orientate himself. Drawing his sword, the elf's eyes take in his surroundings as he seeks to find the source of what may be creating such a stench.
Kalla! Rose! Auric! Can anyone hear me? Calling out to his friends, the elf readies himself for what may come.
Eruaphen 22
Auric 19
Rennai 19
Kalla 13
Conri 13
Enemy 11
Rose 5
"I'm guessing there isn't anyone friendly in her with me...."
Kalla moves into a defensive position and jabs out into the darkness with her longspear:
Round 1:
Standard Action: Attaaaaaack!
[+3 BAB, -1 Str, -1 combat expertise*]
[-1 Str]
Necromancy! Rennai spits out in a near snarl. She takes a step back, puts an arrow to her string, and looses it toward the ghoul in the darkness in front of her, immediately grabbing another and shooting toward the same spot.
As the dark magic washes over him, Conri struggles against it, closing his eyes and baring his teeth in the darkness of the onslaught. As the magic begins to clear, he opens his eyes to see the skeletal creature in front of him, brandishing its hammer, with Auric next to it. Tall man thing is master's pack, he thinks. Will help. The wolf bounds forward and takes a snap at the armed skeleton.
Seeing he is not the only one to occupy this cell, Euraphen springs to action...and misses. I doubt I'm fairing any better than the girl...
What the..! The fell magic assaulting his mind subsides and Auric sees that his companions have vanished before his eyes. No! What have you done?! He screams at the skeletal figure rising from the chair.
A dam of self control breaks in his mind and the edges of the room take on a red tinge. Golden scales envelop his hands and spread up his forearms and his fingers are replaced by curving talons. His torch drops to the floor behind him as he springs at the skeleton wit a feral growl.
Free action: Enter bloodrage, grow claws
Full attack: Raging power attack ;
;
HP: 59/49
AC: 18
Will save +7 /+9 vs enchantment
Bloodrage (Str 22, Con 18) 1/14 rnds used
Rose turns around in the darkness, her nose wrinkled from the familiar, but still unpleasant smell of necromancy. You seek to blind me, do you..., she thinks, before whispering to nobody in particular, Ludere ludum duos, stulte...", her words disappearing just as her silhouette in the darkness, turning to quiet echoes.
[b]"Two can play at this game, fool."
Kalla wastes no time getting in a defensive position. She stabs at the darkness after hearing a growl, but she hits nothing but air.
In the darkness a ghoul bites at Kalla!
Kalla cannot properly defend herself in the dark, and ghoul tear into her flesh!
The ghoul's feral mouth may infect Kalla, with disease and paralysis!
Kalla feels okay despite the damage.
Rennai steps back and lets two arrows fly, both strike their target and pierce through the creature's chest. It snarls, and attacks with a bite!
In the darkness a ghoul bites at Rennai!
The ghoul tears into her flesh!
The ghoul's feral mouth may infect Rennai, with disease and paralysis!
Rennai feels okay despite the damage.
Eruphen attacks and misses the ghoul, it retaliates!
In the darkness a ghoul bites!
But it misses!
In the darkness, and foul ghoul bites at Rose!
The ghoul tears into her flesh!
The ghoul's feral mouth may infect Rose, with disease and paralysis!
Rose is still able to move, but the ghoul infection takes hold!
Conri and Auric work together, trying to take the skeleton down, but despite their efforts they are unable to injure the creature. The skeleton looks down at Auric with a bone smile and raises his hammer.
The two become subject to the creatures aura of fear.
The skeleton looks down at Conri and Auric, his face grows close to them as he gazes with an eyeless stare. Then his jaw unnaturally drops open and closes with a throaty laugh despite the lack of vocal cords.
The skeleton stops cackling, and almost looks angry as it raises its hammer.
Auric is hit hard!