“If you go ahead Kua, do not go further than Badang can see you,” advises Detressa. “Until we find out who or what is taking the bodies and for what purpose, we have no idea what we might encounter down here.”
Belatedly, Detressa realises that they should have asked the Cryptsmisstress about any known traps, guardians or other protections placed here by the Church to deter grave robbers ...
“If you go ahead Kua, do not go further than Badang can see you,” advises Detressa. “Until we find out who or what is taking the bodies and for what purpose, we have no idea what we might encounter down here.”
Belatedly, Detressa realises that they should have asked the Cryptsmisstress about any known traps, guardians or other protections placed here by the Church to deter grave robbers ...
The party corkscrews down into the depths through the cramped stairwell. The stone door you entered through closes behind you, the sound echoing down the shaft. Unlike the crypt above, the air is dusty and stale like it hasn't been stirred in ages.
Roughly halfway down the spiral stair, your magical lights suddenly dim.
Interesting, some sort of anti-magic field neh? I will see if it dims natural light.
Badang puts back his light bullet in his belt pouch and scrounges a torch from his back. He fiddles awhile with the flint and steel and soon holds a lit torch in his left hand.
Uwais draws his sling and loads it, scanning the area for any signs of what might be causing the disturbance.
Kua keeps his back at the edge of Badang's torch light and keeps his dark vision active. Continuing forward, he attempts to stay silent.
Stealth:
Perception:
Hanbo in hand, Mara quickly prays for Sarenrae's guidance as she glances around in an attempt to see what could have caused the lights to dim.
DM Screen:
Badragg finds that while his torch's flame is unaffected, it sheds far less light than he expected.
Uwais:
Edit: Mara:
"What is THAT?!" Mara exclaims, pointing at what appears to be an inflating stalactite located in a narrow gap between the stair and the wall.
"Most unusual, these affects on the light. Not natural, I think. I wonder though, how the missing bodies were found when it seems no one goes here ..." Yang's musings are interrupted by Sister Mara's pointing, and he looks to the odd sight.
The "stalactite" pushes off of the wall, the base spreading out like a thrown cloak flying at the halfling druid!
Still not certain of what is going on, Badang drops his torch on the floor and readies his heavy flail, readying himself for an immediate strike on any approaching adversary.
Question: Does Waya act at this point as well? If so, Waya will take a move action during my standard action to move next to the creature.
Uwais gutturally growls as the creature unfolds itself. Waya's ears perk at this command, and turns towards the monster. As she does, Uwais places his hands upon her, adding to her senses with divine power.
Yang instinctively lashes out with his quarterstaff at the stalactite creature. He also tries to see if he recognizes what the thing is.
attack
damage
knowledge dungeoneering
Hearing Sister Mara's exclamation, Kua closes the distance between himself and Badang, great axe at the ready. If Kua sees the creature, he will attempt to identify it, if not, he will hold to attack whatever enemy approaches.
Knowledge Dungeoneering: +2 if abberation
Mara throws up her hand and unleashes a scorching bolt of divine fire at the flying cloak-like creature.
Detressa spins around, trying to get a look at the thing that Mara has seen.
Conditions- Dim light
Initiative:
"Stalactites"- 12 (Creatures have a +6 modifier; acting first in the case of a tie) Attacking
Sister Mara- 12 Flame Bolt
Uwais/Waya and Kua- 11 U: Control mount/guidance, W: Attack, K: Move back to Badang (may change)
Badang, Detressa and Yangzhun- 9 B: Equip flail, ready action D: Pending Knowledge check Y: Quarterstaff attack.
Knowledge (Dungeoneering) DC 11:
The creature lashes out at the feral halfling, seeking to snatch the pint-sized shaman from his companion's back!
Attack:
But only manages to graze the halfling's leather armor.
As Kua hears the sound of his companion's alarm, something else lashes out him from the opposite corner: another of the creatures, this one better hidden than the last!
Attack:
Grab (grapple attempt as free action):
Though only grazed by the creature's tentacles, Kua is nonethless surprised and trapped by the beast's tentacles, which begin to constrict around the Duskwarden.
Constrict:
With an oath to Saerenrae, Sister Mara throws a handful of her Lady's sacred flame at the creature, causing it to recoil in pain as its flesh is seared. Its tentacles undulating, the beast floats before Uwais and Waya in the corner- though wounded, it presses its attack against the druid as he begins his spell.
Attack:
But it fails to connect as Waya pounces on the wounded monster.
Waya's bite attack w/guidance:
The wolf tears into the Darkmantle, wounding it terribly.
DM Screen:
“Darkmantles!” gasps Detressa, trying to find a clear line from herself to Kua with her outstretched hand.
Icicile is a ranged touch attack. I assume that in this case I will take a -4 penalty for firing into melee (and will factor that into the roll); however, if the creature has gained the grappled condition by grappling Kua it takes a -4 penalty to its dexterity score which will hopefully improved my chances to hit.
“Darkmantles!” gasps Detressa, trying to find a clear line from herself to Kua with her outstretched hand.
Detressa's icicle flies past the struggling Kua, shattering against the wall behind him.
Detressa's icicle flies past the struggling Kua, shattering against the wall behind him.
"Yes, darkmantles as you say. As my staff is not useful, I must resort to better tactics."
Yang points a chubby finger at the wounded darkmantle, and a flash of force flies straight at it, striking home.
force missile
Kua slams against the railing wall, twisting his back and dropping to a knee, raking the darkmantle across the rough stone wall of the shaft.
CMB=
Infernal: Sketikar, akur dhartung!
Badang's brow crosses awhile when everything comes out not quite right. He hustles to Kua, who seems to have an itch to scratch and swings his flail at the dark shape grappling him.
Kua batters the darkmantle against the wall and the dislodges the creature, causing it to land between the Duskwarden and Badang. The warrior advances on the creature, swinging his mighty flail into its leathery flesh. It strikes with a dry thud, the creature whirling from the impact.
Meanwhile, up the stairs, Yang's force missile drives scorches a hole into the wounded beast. It collapses to the stair with a smack like a fish flopping onto a dock.
The wounded darkmantle flies at Badang, flaring out its tentacles.
Slam:
But the burly man dodges its grasp.
Uwais grips Waya, trying to soothe her from the sounds of battle.
She bucks unsteadily, too distracted by the clamor and mayhem to react.
Kua swings his great axe in an upward arc attempting to cut the thing from tentacle to... well whatever passes for it's head.
Standard attack:
Damage:
Infernal: Thelan nir!
Badang dodges the clumsy charge easily, sidestepping and bringing a crushing blow to the creature's leathery form.
"Uwais, are you alright?" Mara calls out as she searches the ceiling and walls for more of the darkmantles. "How about those of you up front?"
With Kua's strike, the darkmantle is slapped against the wall and sliced in twain by the Duskwarden's greataxe. It slops to the floor in two pieces, giving off a rancid odor.
Mara peers up and down in the shaft, but can find no sign of further opposition.
"Is anyone badly hurt?" asks Detressa.
Kua groans a bit as he clutches his side. "I may have a displaced rib or two. Those things tentacles were stronger than they looked. "
You fight well, Kua. I am most pleased. Here, let me see to your wounds.
Cast cure light wounds on Kua.
*picks up dropped torch*
Shall we proceed?
"Is anyone badly hurt?" asks Detressa.
You descend the staircase more carefully with your reduced illumination, Kua in the front to make sure everything is sound. But finally you reach the bottom, where it opens into a large chamber. As your lights finally flare back up to fill the space, you note old carvings covering the walls of this square chamber, thick with dust and cobwebs. Three sets of stone double doors stand in the three facing walls. Heavy bronze seals emblazoned with the symbol of Pharasma secure the doors against whatever lies beyond.
Main entrance chamber it seems. It may be best to circumference the room. If any door is most oft used, it should be obvious.
Casts Guidance
Perception:
"Indeed Badang, and thanks for the assist back there."
Kua begins to search the door farthest to the right.
Perception:
Similar to the door above in the Ossuary, these don't seem to have handles or locks of any kind, the bronze seals keeping them completely shut. Further, the dust on the floor is undisturbed. Strange as it may be, nothing has come this way in a long time.
Perception 15 (north wall):
Yang wheezes a bit from the exertion of the combat. He leans on his staff heavily as he makes his way down the steep stairwell. Seeing the heavy dust and the bronze seal; his brow furrows. "A question lady Detressa: Cryptmistress explained there was only this way in. It looks like no one has come this way in much time. So, I know the obvious is 'how did the stealer of bodies enter?', but I also am curious - how does the priesthood even know bodies are gone? Who has been this way, and how did they get in to see the missing bodies? Or am I misunderstanding?"
perception
-
“As for how these doors remain undisturbed if the bodies were taken through this way ... I cannot say. I would surmise that some magic may be at work – allowing someone to move through walls or locked doors, or an illusion to cover up traces of passage?”
Detressa looks about, as if to seek any other clues. [ooc]Perception:
Detressa notices something on the north wall and moves forward, pulling the glowing sling bullet from her belt pouch and leaning close to the wall. “Look at this,” she says, gesturing her companions over. “Whatever could it mean?”
"Hmmm..." Sister Mara muses as she examines the graffiti on the northern wall that Detressa pointed out. "'My heart beats on the wrong side of my chest, or is it right? Is left right, or is it wrong? I don't know what it means, or why.' Clearly the ravings of an unstable mind, wouldn't you say? However, it is in a fresher hand than these ancient carvings, and in the common tongue to boot. Perhaps this is an indication as to which door the thief is using?"
“An unstable mind was exactly what I was thinking,” answers Detressa, as a sudden private thought comes to her. There are a number of unstable minds amongst the seers of my order ... “Unless it is supposed to be a riddle of some sort?”
In absence of any further clues, I say we should go onwards, neh? Through the northern doors ahead and beyond.
"Indeed. Onwards," Uwais says. He pets Waya reassuringly, though it is his own heart that feels troubled by the mysterious writing on the wall.