Nicholai gives a small smile. "I think it can handle it." The dandy says, gesturing for Alton to join Laithe on the disc.
He glances over his shoulder to see that everyone is ready, then places his hand out in front of him, palm up. He raises an imperious eyebrow and lifts his palm a few inches, and the disc obediently rises,...
Nicholai gives a small smile. "I think it can handle it." The dandy says, gesturing for Alton to join Laithe on the disc.
He glances over his shoulder to see that everyone is ready, then places his hand out in front of him, palm up. He raises an imperious eyebrow and lifts his palm a few inches, and the disc obediently rises,...
As Laithe wills the change into wolf form and Alton climbs onto his back, he is momentarily taken back to Valley of the Snails, where Alton first scrambled onto his back and they rode into battle together. It seemed like an age since that time, though in truth it had only been a matter of weeks.
As the lift began its ascent, so to did his apprehension about whether the consort would lie in wait for them up above...
Alton looks to the rest of the party a little sheepishly. 'Can I borrow a light? I dont seem to have any light source on me...'
Alton takes out the magical dagger once again. reaady to face the dangers above.
Alton looks to the rest of the party a little sheepishly. 'Can I borrow a light? I dont seem to have any light source on me...'
Alton takes out the magical dagger once again. reaady to face the dangers above.
"light my arrow and I'll shoot it up there."
"Save the arrows, we might need them. " Nicholai suggests, unusually serious. He hands the small warrior the light coin. "This is safer, in case you have to drop it." He explains, and then pulls out his lantern and lights it.
Nicolai mentally raises his floating disc, with Laithe and Alton atop it ... as it passes through the circular hole to the chamber above, a pale, lurking shape launches itself at the two heroes.
Nicolai mentally raises his floating disc, with Laithe and Alton atop it ... as it passes through the circular hole to the chamber above, a pale, lurking shape launches itself at the two heroes.
Laithe-wolf scans the room quickly as they rise over into view, immediately spying the lurking consort. As it launches itself forward he bare's his teeth and emits a gutteral growl, crouching down onto his haunches in preparation of his own attack.
Nicholai jumps as Laithe growls.
"LAithe, What's wr,... NO!" He shouts, staring at the bottom of his disc wide-eyed.
She looses an arrow at anything that attacks the pair, hoping to avoid the disc. The elf maiden did expect something like this to happen and reacts instantly.
"Get that disc back down so we can fight the witch!" A venomous light is in those opaline eyes, Pharris looks all warrior now.
Alton jumps even though he suspected the attack, but quickly stabs out with his magical dagger
"Laithe Alton clear the disc!" Nicholai yells at almost the exact same moment as Pharris shouts and looses an arrow.
Initiative: +1
Kajetan stumbles backwards in fright as the melee breaks out above him and a coughing spasm breaks out preventing him from acting or vocalising his fear.
As the wight leaps towards Laithe and Alton, Pharris, her reactions tight and fast, looses her arrow at the undead woman, the shaft finding the narrow gap between the disc and the shaft, and burying itself into the wight’s thigh.
The arrow doesn’t stop her though, and she claws at Alton catching him flat footed, her sharp, cracked nails raking his face, and drawing the very life force from him.
The Halfling gasps, but does not hesitate in returning the attack, burying his dagger deeply into her chest, a trickle of grey dust spilling over his hand, but she does not fall.
The arrow doesn’t stop her though, and she claws at Alton catching him flat footed, her sharp, cracked nails raking his face, and drawing the very life force from him.
The Halfling gasps, but does not hesitate in returning the attack, burying his dagger deeply into her chest, a trickle of grey dust spilling over his hand, but she does not fall.
With a snarl, Laithe lunges in at the wight, trying to finish her before she can do any more harm to his companions. However, he slips on the smooth surface of the disk and his jaws snap well wide of their target.
With a growl of frustration, he retracts and begins to circle the wight warily, waiting for another opportunity to strike.
Nicholai lowers his hand swiftly, and the disc descends. He raises his other hand and points a brightly glowing finger upwards. He swiftly chants a spell, and a brilliant beam of light illuminates the chamber as it slices through the darkness.
Pharris gives a tight grin at the magical ray of fire. Nice.
The wight, standing at the edge of the hole, neatly sidesteps Laithe’s clumsy bite. The wolf, with Alton still clinging to the fur of his back, steps warily off the disc, circling the undead menace.
The instant Laithe steps clear, Nicolai mentally lowers the disc, raises his hand and ~swoosh~! A fiery ray leaps from his hand, striking the wight near her leg and slicing up through her torso and head. Immediately she bursts into flame, and, shrieking horribly whilst she tries futilely to slap out the flames, steps into the hole.
Burning and shrieking, she falls to the floor below (the heroes standing there quickly leaping aside), to lie still as the fire quickly consumes her, leaving naught but ash.
Nicholai stares at the smoking corpse of the,... corpse. His eyes wide with adrenaline. After a few moments pass, and it doesn't move, he relaxes a little. He straightens his long-neglected ascot with a sniff.
"Well. That wasn't so bad now, was it?" He says straight-faced.
"Laithe? Alton? Are you both alright?" He calls up.
"Ladies first. After you my dear!" He says with his trademark grin to Pharris, indicating the now-lowered disc.
The destruction of the final undead obviously brings Nicholai back to his usual smarmy, self-confident self.
Alton slumps off wolf Laiths back, face pale and shaking. He keeps running his hands over his limbs, feeling like a part of him is missing but not knowing what.
"Laithe? Alton? Are you both alright?" He calls up.
Laithe-wolf is shocked but relieved as the fiery ray obliterates the wight and he quickly steps back out of the way as she tumbles into the hole.
As soon as Alton climbs from his back, he wills the change back into human form and kneels by the diminutive warrior in concern.
"We are both alive, but Alton has felt the chill of the wight's touch", he calls down in response to Nicolai's question. While the others ascend, Laithe provides Alton with what healing he can.
"It will ease the pain a little but I can't do anything for the chill at this stage."
Once all of the party are standing in the chamber above, Laithe looks over, a concern expression on his face. Not one has escaped the ravages of the Cairn.
"We have faced the worse this evil place has to offer and we are still standing" he says to them, hoping to lift the spirits of the group. "There is still a section of the cairn we have not visited, but I fear we are not in much of a condition to explore further? I would be willing to push on, but if the consensus is to return to the surface to rest, then I will lead the way."
Nicholai's self-confident smirk fades a little when he hears that Alton was hit, and the dandy swiftly makes his way to the small warrior's side to add his chant to Laithe's.
He looks around at the others, and most of his grin returns.
"We have done good here today. And I daresay that we have a earned a brief respite. After all, none of the ancient wonders were built in a day! IT can hardly be expected of us to unearth, and deal with, an evil that has been sleeping in the ground here for dozens of years in the space of but a single day! Let us return to higher, and friendlier, surroundings to rest. We can return tomorrow to unravel the remainder of the mystery of this tomb!"
Kajetan continues to feel very sorry for him self, he is getting increasingly worried by the spots of blood that decorate his hanky every time he coughs. Once you add in the shortness of breath and numbness where the blackness spreads through his veins then he is all for sleeping. "I feel like I could sleep on my feet, let us get clear of this place and find a safe place to lick our wounds." He casts an envious glance at the dandy, who looks like he is returning from a night carousing on the town rather from the pits of hell.
The group makes their way through the upper level of the tomb, soon arriving back at the throne roof, with the hole in the ceiling that leads up to the cellar of the ruined tower. Somehow now the air in this place feels less chill, the darkness less forbidding.
"No, I said it before here is where I dig my heels in. We should stay in cover and rest. No I am. You leave here if you wish, I am not. This place holds no more fears for me."
Pharris finds a place, a corner and sits down with her greatsword nearby. She grimaces and smiles a sketchy goodbye then plumps up her cloak into a pillow.
Nicholai gives a concerned look to the others, and goes over to Pharris.
"Come along my lady, just a little farther,... up to the basement above. Heavens knows the chill alone here is enough to give me nightmares! Let us at least rest in good earth, and not the stones of this tomb!" He says with a smile.
Nicholai gives a concerned look to the others, and goes over to Pharris.
"Come along my lady, just a little farther,... up to the basement above. Heavens knows the chill alone here is enough to give me nightmares! Let us at least rest in good earth, and not the stones of this tomb!" He says with a smile.
Laithe can't help but smile at the determination of the elven swordswoman, impressed by her resolve.
"There will be no leaving each other at this stage, but like Nicolai says, let's head up to the basement at least; it will feel closer to nature up there."
Laithe want's to see if there is anything he can do to help with the host of saving throws the party will have to make the following day to see if the negative level is shaken or kept. There are a few spells that could help; Guidance/Resistance to boost the save, bear's endurance to boost save etc. However, all these are short duration and would rely on Laithe casting them just before the save needs to be made (24 hours after the fight). Would you allow me to take these and then cast at the appropriate time, or would you say that is not realistic? Either way is fine - I just don't want to waste a whole lot of spell slots on it only to have it dis-allowed.
"You head up where you want, but I will not be leaving the tomb until I am stronger. Just go up and take a look around while I try to gather my energy to climb to the basement. But that is as far as I go. Just don't ask again. I have had enough for today."
The woman holds her head in her hands and closes her eyes in meditation.
Kajetan looks uncertainly from one person to the next, waiting for someone to make a decision on if he sleeps here, above or somewhere else, "what if the soldiers come by again?" he whispers.
Laithe:
Kajetan looks uncertainly from one person to the next, waiting for someone to make a decision on if he sleeps here, above or somewhere else, "what if the soldiers come by again?" he whispers.
Laithe moves over and confers with the others.
"I don't like the thought of splitting the party up. If Pharris is determined to rest here then we should all stay here. Though some dangers may remain in the tomb, I think we have expelled the worst of it's evil and should be safe enough."
He looks over to Keildrithe. "Perhaps Keildrithe and I can venture up for a quick scout around? If we find any signs of Vorn and his men about, then we may look to adjust out plans?"
Nicholai nods slowly, albeit reluctantly.
"I'll go up with you. See if Wij has seen anything. Then we should come back down, stick together."
Nicholai nods slowly, albeit reluctantly.
"I'll go up with you. See if Wij has seen anything. Then we should come back down, stick together."
Laithe nods at the offer.
"Two should be plenty, especially with the aid of Wij. It is likely we will not need to stay up there long. Let's go."
He takes a moment to ensure the others are as comfortable as possible and then with the aid of Nicolai's disk, heads up towards the entrance to the cairn. Though weary, he is happy to spend a little time under the light of the sun, hoping it will go some way to dispelling some of the remaining chill from the consort's touch.
Laithe and Nicolai gain the surface. The air is cold but fresh – the two men cannot help but appreciate how good it is to feel the wind against their skin and see the clear blue sky overhead (the sun shines bright but small in the wintery sky) after what feels like so long in the oppressive darkness of the cairn.
There is no sign of the soldiers or other obvious dangers, and Wijk-An (sending an empathic burst of joy and relief at seeing Nicolai safe and unharmed) seems to have nothing to report.
Laithe and Nicolai gain the surface. The air is cold but fresh – the two men cannot help but appreciate how good it is to feel the wind against their skin and see the clear blue sky overhead (the sun shines bright but small in the wintery sky) after what feels like so long in the oppressive darkness of the cairn.
There is no sign of the soldiers or other obvious dangers, and Wijk-An (sending an empathic burst of joy and relief at seeing Nicolai safe and unharmed) seems to have nothing to report.
After checking for any immediate threats, Laithe basks for a moment in the sunshine, eyes closed, letting some of the strains of the cairn wash away. He quickly returns to business though, and spends 20 minutes carefully scanning the surrounding landscape.
"I guess we should head back down then and get some rest", he says to Nicolai unenthusiastically.
Nicholai indulges in a rare moment of scratching Wij'kan's head feathers until the bird sneezes. He also takes a long, slow look around, with Wij' flying another circle around them.
The dandy purses his lips wryly at Laithe's obvious reluctance to re-enter the darkness below.
"I understand Laithe. Your obvious enjoyment of our underground explorations echo my own. The city is my natural environment my friend. And I long to return to it as much as you long to return to your trees."
He shrugs, and grins. "Ah, well. Maybe tomorrow!?" He says jokingly, gesturing towards the hole with a 'you first' motion.
It’s great to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air for a little longer, but nothing else presents itself to your eyes.
Down in the darkness Kajetan slumps down against the wall, and feeble attempts to unroll his bed roll and winter blanket the process taking a ridiculously long time due to his frequent coughing fits and his trembling hands. He squints across at Pharris and Alton and grins "all the comforts of home, so what is on the menu for dinner?"
The elf maiden's eyes roll up and come back to life as she stops meditating, "I said I would go one step further but not outside. That is fair, look at me, I am weak as a fairy and in no condition to meet anything or anyone. As for food, Kajetan, you should eat, you look awful. Ha ha ha," tinkles her laugh at the end.
Then she looks strangely at the mage again, "tell me of your past, Kajetan, your family, where you were brought up and what was it like? It will help pass the time."
"I understand Laithe. Your obvious enjoyment of our underground explorations echo my own. The city is my natural environment my friend. And I long to return to it as much as you long to return to your trees."
He shrugs, and grins. "Ah, well. Maybe tomorrow!?" He says jokingly, gesturing towards the hole with a 'you first' motion.
"Well, it looks like I have less time to wait than you till I am back in my preferred element so I shall drag my feet no longer. We will likely be on the road again tomorrow, where it might be some time before we find ourselves in another city."
He is about to descend when he pauses and looks back at Nicolai (possibly picking up on the thoughts of Kajetan below!).
"Do we have anything to eat? I rarely carry food with me, trusting on the land to provide, but perhaps you or one of the others are carrying some rations. I am weary, but will gather some food for everyone if needed. If nothing else it will be a good excuse to spend some more time under the sun."
Kajetan searches through his backpack and comes out with some grease cloth wrapped salted bread, hard cheese, beef jerky and assorted nuts and dried fruit, he dusts fluff of the cheese. "mmmmm, yummy, I think I have enough for 3 of us," he shrugs as he lays the food out.
He stops setting up the picnic as the tall elf maiden asks of his past, "I doubt there is much you will find of interest in my past, I was born into wealth, my father made a small fortune as a trader of exotic spices, my mother, well she died giving birth to me," he pauses and bites his bottom lip for a second "that is something I don't think my father ever forgave me for. Don't get me wrong, he loved me, but not the same way he loved my older siblings, you see I was much younger than them, by some ten years and I think I was an unexpected child as he already had two sons, an heir and a spare so to speak." He pauses again to take a drink from his water skin to refresh his tomb dry mouth. "I don't look much like my siblings either, they are taller and broader, and my eyes, they don't run in our family, in fact they don't run in any family of Lorin heritage, I don't rightly know what that means, maybe my mother was unfaithful? Does that make me a bastard?" he pauses to concider the question, before he changes the subject. "I had a lot of tutors when I was younger, I was even more of a book worm then than I am now, so while others of my age where out playing, I would be hidden away in a dusty library or a musty study, reading. I don't know when I realised I could do magic, it seemed to come naturally to me, I think left untrained I would have ended up like Nicolai, but that was not to be my path, I had access to books that detailed the study of magic and I found how to structure it and control it, over time I found I could no longer do magic with out this structure." He sighs "That was a long time ago, it seems like a different life time, I left home, with out my fathers blessing in search of a fable, I had heard tell of this powerful book of magic, the Tomb of Knowledge and the wizard Calais Amphion who scared of its power, hid it away to protect mankind." He chuckles which turns into a cough, he dabs blood from his lips as he continues, "in my youthful arrogance, I thought I would be able to travel half way across the known world and follow the bread crumb trail to retrieve the book, how naive and foolish I was only 12 months ago." He sighs again sadly and changes the subject, "we should eat now while we still have some light,"