"So this is the walking dead?" Ostog asks still looking around for more enemies. He continues: "Where any of them gols?"
He visibly relaxes a bit as he concludes that there is not any more enemies in sight.
Jerry speaks up: "Rabe, I wouldn't have believed the punishment you could take and stand if I hadn't been there. I will add that to the ballad."
Jerry looks around and retrieves his whip.
"Where next?"
Black inspects the spent orb, trying to recall anything from his lessons on what it might be.
Jaidoh watches as the orb blinks out and then fires her readied spell to see if it has any effect.
Whatever this is, it appears as though whatever evil is animating this is coming from farther in the crypt. Is everyone ok? Can we proceed? Rabe, you appeared to take a beating. I have no idea how you remained standing.
Jaidoh continues to watch all the passages expecting something else to come forth.
Sagging a bit and appearing exhausted I answer "It is a gift and a curse. I learned to block out pain and debilitating effects to my body through practice so that I could fight longer and better, it also locks out my reasoning half however and I have to try very hard to recognize who is friend or foe. Let us press on into the crypt, I can recover as we walk."
"Close the door, don't let any of these things disturb the church. They might not pay us." Utrath voices as he looks into the darkness. "The central path looks the widest, should we start down that way?" he asked, concerned that they press on and find whatever drives these things.
"Rabe, you fight well, we are lucky to have such strength with us, and you too Oostog fight well. Should your strength fail and you wounds get the better of you, maybe I can help in some way" he asks, then remembering quietly says, oh, it goes for the rest of you too.
Jaidoh listens to Utrath and then quietly responds: We do not know how large or maze like these crypts are. Perhaps it would be better to take one of the side paths so that we do not get lost in here.
Black inspects the spent orb, trying to recall anything from his lessons on what it might be.
[dice=Knowledge (religion)]1d20+4
[dice=Knowledge (planes)]1d20+4
From your knowledge you manage to peice together that these orbs held somekind of sentient negative energy that isn't of this world. Beyond that, there is little else you can peice together besides that the orbs were used to keep the the energy inside for the beings inside could not live in this world, however how such things were created or where they came from is beyond your knowledge.
Jaidoh goes and looks at one of the orbs. If it appears to be inert, she will put it into her pack for either a priest or their employer to investigate once the exploration is finished.
Ostog swithces his axe to his shield hand, turns to Rabe and pads his shoulder: "Well fought, I am proud to stand beside you. A man like you would be welcome in any fylke."
Taking his axe again he turns to the other with a smile: "So deeper into the lair we go?"
Actually, we should follow these black tendrils. They are likely to lead us to more undead, and the source of whatever evil is causing this.
Jaidoh looks around to see who wishes to lead knowing that she is not the best equipped for this.
"Lay on Rabe. We have undead to make more dead. Let me search any intersections and doors if you suspect traps."
"Thank you Ostog, you fight with strength as well." I glance around curiously for a moment. "What black tendrils Jaidoh? I see nothing but crypt and dirt."
Jaidoh points at the tendrils: They are right here, can you not see them?
"These orbs, they held some kind of creature or mind from the Negative Energy plane. They are not from our world. Something here is very wrong. I would advise rooting out this evil as quickly as is prudently possible. Yes, we should follow the tendrils," advises Black, this new knowledge weighing heavily on his mind.
Jerry didn't want to say anything. He didn't want to show up his new friends or come off as a know it all. But now that others spoke up...
"I can see them. I will guide Rabe too."
Jerry uses his hand with the whip as a divining rod, pointing the way.
I shrug my shoulders "I still see nothing, but since everyone else seems to be able too I will lead where you point Jerry." With that I begin down the path that he points to.
With the door shut behind him, Utrath turns watching the Varasian 'divine' the way, guiding Rabe. Under his breath he grumbles about the trust Rabe is placing in the colorful man.
The hallway ahead appears to be unshaped after many years. Only areas that show recent work are the tunnels where the zombies and ghouls appeared. Work, that you assume was done by the priests to fit more people down here leading endlessly below this square. The path is clearly ahead where the corridor grows older and the steps lead down into darkness.
my attempt at stealth
"I prefer a living enemy to these walking dead any day" Ostog says as he heads after Rabe and Jerry. Once again his shield is raised and and axe ready.
Utrath unafraid of the dark, follows, his eyes looking deep into the darkness beyond the light. "Yes, such creatures don't belong here, their souls belong to the gods that call them. It is right we should reclaim this for the church above and send the souls for judgement."
"Undead have no sense of humor. I will be reducing the population of the hostile audience for my jokes and stories. And then there is the destroying evil angle too. That is a bonus."
The outsider seems to be in continual good spirits.
"Are you sure? We tell a story about a laughing spirit back home." Ostog adds and continues with a smile: "Come to think of it she did kill people, but laughing."
Jaidoh looks at the dead ghouls and zombies: Undead are but shadows of life. Shadows which do not belong in this world.
"Onward then, but with care, there are enough shadows in this place to hide an army of these things." says the cautious druid.
As you work your way further Rabe holds the group as he sees ahead a group of skeletons of zombies appear to be standing outside the great door to the heard of the Catacombs. The resting place of Alcaydian Indros the first.
They just mull there for the moment, not really doing anything and merely standing there as if in a daze. You see only three skeleton's standing, however there are a few other bodies that appear to have collapses, or in the skeleton's cases, fallen apart and left discarded on the ground. no trendrils are touching these.
There is a broken lock on the floor of the big door leading into the resting place of the great paladin and light issuing from the cracks of the door. Beyond you can hear just a few words of a discussion.
"We have the artifact! Now, I will take this back to the base." the first voice states
"What of me, master?" asks the second voice, which sounds as if the person was gurgling more than speaking.
"Guard the orb and kill those that approch it." and afterwards, all is quiet.
The skeletons don't appear to have noticed you.
Perception
"They have the artifact!" I hiss back to the rest of the group. With no time to waste I charge forward and knock the door off its hinges with my shoulder to confront those within.
Combat maneuver
Jaidoh looks to the others and whispers: I can try to disrupt them. It might be quiet enough to take them down without alerting those within.
"May the Light of Sarenrae guide you, Ostog!" blesses Black, casting Protection from Evil on the ranger.
The charging barbarian surprises everyone. He smashes into the door, knocking it off it's hinges, despite it appearing to have been made to withstand a charging bull. Inside is a beautifully made up with a sarcophagus on the elevated level. Currently the lid has been thrown off and right in front of Rabe is a enormous orb, far bigger than the previous ones encountered. It is a perfect sphere that just floats there menecingly, however behind it by the great paladin's resting place is a creature that appears to be made of slime and a cloaked figure, all of who appear shocked. If the skeletons by Rabe had emotions, their jaws would literilly drop to the ground.
In the hand of the cloaked figure appears to be a large shard of crystal. Big enough to be the length and width of a wand. The figure sneers at the group.
"I have no time to deal with mortals. I have a visionary to rescue!" with that, he turns, making his way towards the exit.
You all have a surprise round action due to Rabe's surprising action. The skeletons are slow and shambling creatures and havn't registered what just happened. The Orb in the centre is the source of all the trendrils that you've all been able to see.
the creature is a minor devil from hell. The first stage of human transformation. Their memory is limited and all they remember is their loves of life, either food, sacrifice or pornographic material. Many mortals who never accomplished enough to please their evil masters become these beings, which can gain power overtime, unlike those who pleased their lords.
These creatures have a resistant hide that only silver or good aligned swords can bypass. They are immune to fire, mind-affecting spells and poison. They are resistant to acid and cold, but beyond these base defensive abilities, they have nothing more special about them. Truely the most pathetic creature to come from hell.
Surprise Round
Move to A13. <-- Not sure there is much else I can do.
Lets have some fun guys. We cannot allow Rabe to take all the glory.
Surprise Round
Seeing the cloaked figure with the crystal shard I yell back to the group "Another orb!" and run toward the figure.
climb
Round - Surprise
Black moves forward with the rest of the group and, when he sees the slime creature, recalls one of his tutors' lessons on evil outsiders.
"The slime creature is a Lemure, the lowest order of Devil from Hell! Only silver or good-aligned weapons can harm them! They are immune to fire, mind-affecting spells and poison, and resistant to acid and cold!"
"It looks like I better try and keep up" Ostog says with a forced smile as he heads after Rabe.
Jerry rushes to back up the bold move.
"You can't kick devil butt without me."
The aasimar rushes ahead, unencumbered by his light armor.
Double-move to (12,-B).
Double-move to (12,B).
Fixed. ;)
Utrath moves up, the great evil ahead, the unbalance must be removed. His sense tingle with the great rocks life.
Round 1
Team Iniative:
Rabe the Huntsman:
Ostog Oath-Breaker:
Jaidoh Palumbra:
Utrath Pallan:
Jerry Brightstone:
Blackhands of the Redeemer:
Skeletons:
Devil, Lemure:
Cloaked Stranger:
Order:
Rabe The Huntsman
Jerry Brightstone
Devil, Lemure
Ostog Oath-Breaker
Blackhands of the Redeemer
Jaidoh Palumbra
Cloaking Stranger
Skeletons
Utrath Pallan
just copy pasting my post from above
Seeing the cloaked figure with the crystal shard I yell back to the group "Another orb!" and run toward the figure.
climb 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25 If necessary