Breaking down doors, that was something she could do. Better not to think of all the other things. The bloodstained, history-stained items now in their possession. The cursed spirits who had been their owners still roaming this place and preying on the living.
Grasping one end of the crowbar, Smaranda throws herself at the task.
"You didn't ask,"
Thistle tried to help Smaranda, but got in the way more than her helped. That was unusual.
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With a combined effort you break open the once hidden door. The alcove itself contains several armor stands, weapon racks, and a wooden chest, all of which still hold dust-caked but perfectly functional suits of armor and weapons, and a few magic items.
In all, there are six suits of masterwork chainmail and six suits of masterwork studded leather armor, four masterwork longswords, four masterwork heavy maces, two masterwork heavy crossbows, 120 crossbow bolts, a case containing 10 magical crossbow bolts that all radiate the same aura, a thin carved oak wand that radiates a magical aura, four potions that radiate the same magical aura, and a 50 foot length of wet stained hemp rope that radiates a magical aura.
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"What a wonderful haul. This must have been the guards' armory! These suits of armor would be very useful. I can probably use one, myself, though they look a bit long. and these weapons, too. These crossbow bolts are magical, giving each an extra punch. And the wand can be used to hold someone in place. Perhaps that should go to me as well, given that I am not that effective in hand-to-hand combat.
As for the potions and the rope...well, I'm not sure. There's a conjuration (healing) aura on the potions, so likely healing potion of some kind?"
Thistle took a few moments to exchange his standard chainmail for a piece of higher quality, though lower hemline.
"Well, I for one am glad we stopped to open that door. now that we are better equipped, shall we press on?"
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"This rope I recognize, although the tears don't make much sense. It is a rope of climbing, and can certainly help us getting in and out of dark places. Let me have those crossbow bolts, and I will try to put them to good use."
Kisasi also dons a set of masterwork chainmail, grabs a master heavy
mace and a masterwork heavy crossbow. He looks a bit more like a city guard now than his usual self, but seems to be familiar enough with the new equipment that it may come in handy crushing undead.
Smaranda watches the magical items warily, not claiming any of them for herself. She felt more comfortable relying on her own mind and body in any situation, although she admits that it had felt good when Thistle had used the wand on her, the one that healed her. She wonders if they might find something to lift the curse that still weighs heavily on her, and pokes at her wounds again.
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"I believe the upper two levels are now fully explored, and I hope we have put some of these spirits to rest. But I fear it is now time to face the blood writing. We can try to communicate with the dead, but I am not sure speaking with the spirit of a psychopath is going to do us much good. So I suggest we go in prepared to destroy it. I will use the haunt syphon, and Thistle, I think you have some powers to damage the undead, do you not? Just please, if you don't mind, try to exclude Smaranda and myself? It is an unfortunate side effect of my heritage, as I believe you have all now come to know."
Mihaela grabs a light crossbow and bolts. "I can use this." as she slings the crossbow over her shoulder. "I can also harm the undead with my restoration abilities if needed, but should i hold these in reserve?" she asks Kisasi.
Know Arcana: Potions
Spellcraft: Potions
Know Arcana: Rope
Spellcraft: Rope
Mihaela studies the potions intently. "These appear to be powerful healing potions! Looks like Cure Moderate Wounds, they will come handy I'm sure. I hope these don't expire.... and the rope, do you see how it appears to be crying? This is tells me that this is a Rope of Climbing."
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Having a basic idea of a plan and hope that it will work Kisasi leads everyone back through the cave. Pausing at the door that leads into the cell block he reminds everyone once more of the plan and then opens the door, stepping through.
Initiative Rolls
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Following the discussion with Kisasi, Thistle already had a haunt siphon in hand. He twisted the top and held on as the haunt's energies surged into the bottle.
"Uh guys..." MIhaela says apprehensively.. "There's blood on these walls, and it's welling up..."
She prepares a Cure Light Wounds and attempts to reach out and touch the apparition.
She nearly fumbles and sticks her hand on Thistle's face!
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"Here it comes again!"
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"The letters... again."
Smaranda points at the wall as she looks at the others with somewhat like panic in her eyes. She couldn't fight this. She had no magic. She attempts to erase the letter with her sleeve.
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Kisasi moves to stab a wooden stake against the wall bearing the first letter of his own name has appeared in blood but is so shaken by the sight that he misses and finds himself only thrashing the wooden stake in his hand against the air in front of him.
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Thistle heard Kisasi complain about him using the last haunt siphon and turned bright red, realizing his mistake. Then, as the bloody letters began appearing once more he went pale. Stammering, he called upon Desna to purge this area of its hauntly influence.
Delixia looks away from the bloody letter on the wall, muttering "Not again, not again." Looking to the rest of the group she squeezes her eyes shut and shout loudly, "What was our plan for these things again?!"
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As the bloody letters fade you hear what you can only describe as maniacal laughter coming from further within the cell block before hearing "Go! Kill! Eat!" Followed by more mad laughter.
Looking out from the from the chamber you are in via the open doorway you can see an apparition of an old man. His gray hair is sticking out wildly in all directions. His nails are long and his features gaunt. He is dressed in tattered clothing that looks much like those you would expect a learned professor to wear while walking the halls of a university.
As you gaze upon him, he in turn looks upon you, and you can feel a chill run down your spine.
This filthy rat is the size of a small dog. It has a coat of coarse fur, a long and scabby tail, and two glittering eyes.
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Smaranda snarls and bares her teeth at the apparition, leaping forward to confront it. As the huge rats make their appearance, she pauses to kick at them, memories of rats gnawing at her toes as she slept in filthy alleys surfacing and momentarily distracting her from the old man.
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Mihaela touches Smaranda on her shoulder. "Stay safe."
Smaranda crunches on a near by rat with a violent stomp. The rat collapses under the blow but continues to breathe.
A ray of white light surges out from Kisasi's finger tip and strikes true. A momentary flash of bright white light erupts when the ray strikes the Splatter Man. Callous laughter is heard when the light returns to normal.
The rats swarm Smaranda squeaking and biting.
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Delixia thunders out through the doorway with a curse as she steps over the unconscious rat. Her morningstar flickers in the light coming from within the former holding cell as it smashes down through the air at the rat before her.
The Splatter Man extends his hand a hail of near invisible arrows shoot forth striking everyone but Thistle.
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"Friends, may Desna's fleet blessings guide your hands, your feet, and...ah...um...your stomachs as you battle these, her enemies. And the rats. Definitely helping you with the rats. You know, these things are often seen in crypts and caves. I believe they are attracted to necromantic energies. Perhaps even created by them. You know, regular rats feasting on a body one minute, then the size of dogs with horns and bone spurs and other nasty bits the next. Probably quite a surprise when they go skulking back to the missus, and she calls the watch because she doesn't recognize her mate, and...where was I going with that? "
Yes, the rats. Time to finish off that bugger to the left, then. A vicious expression on her face, Smaranda takes aim and lashes out with a foot, sending the rat flying against the wall with a satisfying crunch.
Standing in the back, but too far from Splatterman, Mihaela calls out to Delixia and Kisasi, "Delixia, you almost had it! position a foot out a little more to hit the rat(blue)! Kisasi, wait till you see Splatterman move again, then aim a bit lower!"
Delixia swings wildly at the remaining rat, trying to take in Mihaela's advice but unable to get a good fix on its position. Using her recently learned tactics , she is able to better position herself on the other side of the rate so that Smaranda may be able to take advantage of the flank.
Time to finish these rats and focus on the real threat. Smaranda turns to face the one remaining vermin, face contorted in disgust and hatred as she aims a kick at it.
"May the light of Desna show you your wicked ways!" shouted Thistle as he cast a spell. It detonated in the far side of the room, catching only the apparition that was the splatterman.
Mihaela grunts from the impact of the magic missile, "We've got to get to the caster!" as she steps forward and pulls out a dagger. "Smaranda, your target is looking weak after that hit! Do it again!"
She attempts to attack the rat(blue) with her dagger!
Delixia reels from the damage from the ranged attack. "We need to end this. Quickly!" Realizing she needs to get in there, she prepares herself the best she can and cast a protection spell on herself.