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As the statue animates, Vox is momentarily surprised and even horrified. His confidence has been severely shaken by the thorough trouncing inflicted upon him by the wolves, but a portion of this had returned after the party's unparalleled success with the skeletons at the crypts entrance. Now, just when the young man was beginning to think he and his companions might have this crypt under control, the unexpected animation of the dual tower-shield wielding monstrosity stole what little confidence he had mustered.
Don't let the others down, Vox thinks to himself as he begins to charge forward from the back of the room. This is your chance to prove yourself.
After moving straight ahead to the 10-foot drop, Vox attempts to step off the edge and land safely on his feet, with is back pressed firmly against the stone shelf.
With the sound of wood splintering and creaking, the statue raises its arms and whirls about. Fulfilling its sacred duty, protecting the tomb of its likeness, the golem smashes the first thing it saw when it awakened: Hamilton Trask.
The wooden tower shield smashes Trask in the face, but the blow seems to be muted somewhat by the golem having just woken.
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It takes the large man a few moments to realize that Trask is referring to him. He looks up at 'Poochie', who seems to be caught by surprise by the large wood-thing.
Trask then does a magnificent job of holding the wood monster down, for a moment at least as its shield connects with the man's face. Strong Brute decides he can give the wood-thing a bit of a retort while he waits for 'Poochie'. He steps up and swings for what he's worth, getting his blood boiling to gather the extra strength and tenacity it provides.
As Trask leaps up to grab the big animated wooden statue, it brings a shield around to smash the man again. Luckily for Hamilton, he is quicker than that and even manages to get a good grip on the golem, restricting its movement and baring the key hole.
Strong Brute strides up and swipes the golem with what would be a stunning blow, but alas it goes wide of the struggling statue.
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"Oooh, Mr. Trask. I have that magic key here somewhere. If I can just find it."
To no one surprise Ophiuchus drops his shield which rockets over the wall. Rummaging in his back, Ophiuchus find many useless items, he pauses when retrieving the torch .... "Mr. Trask, you want me to burn the golem? Oh, you are holding it and it would burn you too? Ok, let go and then I will burn it. What? Ok, we can burn it later."
Ophiuchus retrieves the key and slides down the ramp to join the Fray.
Merian fusses with Ophiuchus as he attempts to retrieve the key.
"Don't you even think about going down there to insert that key, love!" scolds Merian, getting on Ophiuchus' back once more, "You're still wounded from that crossbow bolt and I don't want you joining me here in this world."
Who knows what she means by that last comment. Paying no mind to Merian's warnings, Ophiuchus continues down the slide towards the golem. Incensed at being ignored, Merian hooks a ghostly foot around Ophiuchus' left shin and kicks out with great force. Her adoptive "sister" falls flat on her back and slides ungracefully down the slope.
Ophiuchus eventually retrieves the key and makes to head down the ramp. The poor nagaji's legs fail him, however, moving suddenly to the side. While his descent is brief, Ophiuchus bounces off Strong Brute at the bottom, and lands on his back just next to the ramp. Luckily, the statue of Kassen is too distracted trying to smash Hamilton Trask to notice or take advantage of the nagaji's troubles.
Or, at least, that's what would have happend had Ophiuchus not skipped lightly over Merian's outstretched foot and gracefully managed to maintain his balance to stand next to Strong Brute.
The golem's wooden flesh burns dramatically, letting off a pleasant campfire-style smell
Face impassive, the animated statue attempts to throw off the tenacious Hamilton Trask.
The slayer is too wily for the golem, however, and maintains his hold on the creature.
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"Big man that sings, here is the key. That that is the key that I got when I dove down the well. Remember I was so scared because it was dark and I am wounded close to death, but Mr. Trask was looking at me like, "You go do that Poochie" and I was not going to say "No". So of course I went down and it was the key that was glowing, and I tried a lot of times to pick it up but you know that can be hard for me. Why are you running away so fast? Oh, you are going to hug the wooden statue like Mr. Trask? I didn't know that is how you kill these, with hugs. Should I hug it too? I have hugged lots of things but I never killed anything by hugging it."
Strong Brute and Vox grab the key from Ophiuchus for Hamilton, and then help the slayer to hold the wood golem still enough to insert the key in its back.
The statue struggles vainly against the three brawny men in vain. They key slips into the slot with a satisfying click and it is but the work of a moment to turn the thing. There is a clicking of internal mechanisms and the adventurers at first think that Hamilton has failed. Indeed, the golem stands up and breaks free from the men grabbing it (taking the key with it).
However, the animated statue simply returns to its original position on the dais. As it does so, the stairs realign and may be traversed normally once more.
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The wooden contraption walks back to it's perch. "Wow, the hugs worked. You are the best heroes to adventure with. Merian would love to hear about all the dead things that are alive, and all the alive things that are dead, and all the things that were alive, but died, and are now living again. Mr. Trask, do you think I can take one of those shields? I seemed to have, ummmm, dropped mine. What little man that talks funny? It is over there. Maybe I will have both. A great warrior needs many weapons to hug enemies"
Before he even fully realizes what he is doing, Roundantaimi has grabbed the key from the golem and tried it on the door to the southern chamber. Noting that it is small and free of enemies, Roundantaimi wanders in. As the door creaks open, it allows the light from the strong brute's scythe to spill into the room. Map updated.
This small chamber has a table on the opposite side of the room. On top of this table are a number of items, each with a small note attached.
There is a large note in front of all the packages. It reads:
You have done so well to make it this far. The perils you have faced so far are not the end, however. You must use your wits to shield yourselves against what is to come. To help you on your way, the town of Kassen leaves for you these gifts. Use them well, brave heroes!
Each package also has a personal note:
For the strong brute, we have a beverage that will grant him even greater strength than he already possesses. We also include an oil that, when applied to his scythe, will grant it the properties of a magical weapon.
For Vargidan’s “daughter", Ophiuchus, he may have a wand of spells to cure the wounds of himself and his companions. This will work 10 more times before losing its magic. Also, a scroll that will prove very useful to returning one companion’s strength of body or mind in ways not related to their wounds.
For the hunter Vox Banner, we present a potion to make him more nimble than ever and another oil to grant his hammer the properties of a magical weapon.
To Jaender the Black, Vargidan’s other charge, we leave a wand for blasting foes with unerring accuracy and a scroll of one of his favorite spells that Vargidan never taught him.
The eccentric and energetic gnome, Roundantaimi, we have managed to locate a very well made gun for you, as well as a means to make its bullets magical should you wish.
Hamilton Trask, we know so little of you. We pray that you will be able to make use of a potion to increase your endurance and an oil to make your weapon have the properties of a magical one.
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Wow, maybe the old man isn't so bad after all... Nahh... This sure is nice though! I suppose I will stop back by to thank him in the end.
Jaender puts his wand and scroll in the folds of one of the pockets in his robe.
"Well that was a pleasant surprise. I suppose I am glad our benefactors made it this far at least."
Kassen’s guardian stands of wood. Take his shields and use them well!
"I doubt I am strong enough to carry these overbearing things, but it seems like we are supposed to use them, somehow, somewhere, if the rambling madman is to be trusted..."
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"Well, how nice. Truly a useful set of tools to work with. That's a fine purty gun there, Rudi... mighty fine. This 'test' has been interesting, but we've got more work to do.
"Sven, I am thinking that, perhaps, you should take this Bear's Endurance, and I would use the Bull's Strength instead. Nothing personal, but I am thinking I've taken a few more hits in my day, so can deal with it a little better.
"On that, Poochie, would you mind tapping me with that there 'happy stick'?"
Trask won't sweat it any if Sven doesn't want to switch,.
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"No, Poochie, not close to date. That smack by the wood thing stung, I've had a lot worse, though, see this scar here?". Trask point to a nasty looking scar on his left shoulder. "Got that fighting a dretch in a town not five miles from the Worldwound. Damned thing first turned its ass to us. And let out the most obnoxious cloud of putridness at us... To call it a fart would be to give a bad name to flatuance. Well, I pushed my way through that wretched cloud, planning on letting The Executioner have its way with him, but he lept up and started chewing on me! Well, as you can tell. My axe ain't a thing for clow quarters fighting, so I pulled my cold iron dagger, and stabbed the thing... It kept biting harder and harder until it succumbed to the greater wounds I dealt it. For weeks we thought id lose the arm, which woulda been a crying shame, but finally we got help from a healer, once we got back to Nerosyn. I tell you, demons, even little ones, ain't nothing to take lightly. so, when you say you are close to death from a little bolt wound, understand I ain't impressed. Now, I reckon in this here crypt, you'll have plenty of chances to get some real wounds. Ones you might even want to let heal naturally, only to impress the ladies, if you know what I mean. Or is that the fellas for you. Never can tell with you snake people."
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"Let's go take care of the door that ain't waged, and ain't one way. We can see where it takes us, when I reckon we can deal with that door I jammed shut. Maybe we'll find asked or somethin'"
"grab those shields, friends. We were under orders to take em, so we'd best take em. Who knows, they may com in handy. Just drop em before you try and fight, mind you"[
Trask makes his way to door #4 unless there are objections.
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Jaender tries to pick one of the massive shield up, however the giant piece of wood weighs nearly 3 times what the little sorcerer weighs. Despite his effort, it will not budge.
Sheepishly, "I suppose one of you taller men, or ladies, will have to carry this."
Speaking to trask as they make their way back to the other door, "sorry about that back there, I couldn't resist trying to take it down with fire... I'll be more careful next time."
-Posted with Wayfinder
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I will carry a shield. I have not been chewed on by demons Mr. Trask, but I too have felt pain. But today, now, let us be happy. We will have a grand adventure down here and rescue the crazy man's sister. Then we will be heroes."
How I wish Merian was here. She knew me so well. I always felt so happy with her, so safe, so right. Here, I do not feel that way. Maybe it is as she keeps telling me, "Time will heal all things".
"I am with you, my dear," says Merian, sounding slightly hurt, "And time does heal all things. At the very least, time will ensure that you will join us in the end."
As the party approaches the door west of where Roldare was hiding, a ripe smell of death can be smelled through the closed door. Opening the door, Strong Brute sees a pile of trash and filth sits in the corner, and a strange and massive beetle in the middle of the room seems to be attempting to drag the corpse of a villager over to the pile. The poor villager is so badly mauled that his identity cannot be confirmed.
It looks up warily and clicks its mandibles as Strong Brute and Trask cautiously enter the room. When it becomes clear the humans will not be leaving any time soon, the giant vermin (predictably) attacks.
This is a bombardier beetle, a giant vermin found in dungeons. It has darkvision and is immune to mind-affecting spells.
The bombardier has a special breath weapon attack, it can spit acid in a 10-ft cone once every 1-4 rounds or so.
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The strong brute huffs in amusement at Trask's ongoing story-telling to Ophiuchus. While he doesn't necessarily not believe the man, he finds the man a bit over-the-top in proving to the others just how gritty and worldly he really is.
The young man effortlessly takes the shield from Jaender, carrying it awkwardly in one hand, his scythe in the other as they go through the door. As the beetle makes itself known, the brute drops the shield with a loud thud, skirting the far wall to place himself opposite the beetle from Trask. Knowing the man's efficiency, he patiently waits for the man to set up before striking, himself.
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Trask doesn't worry too much about what it is. It appears hostile, so he needs to destroy it. It is what he does, protect his team with extreme violence. The fact that he is thinking of these children as his team surprises him, as much as the fact that they are indeed not so much younger than he.
As Sven drops his attack at the same time, Trask gives him a nod.
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"OOOOOH! Look-look-look, a new gun. Oo, it's so shiny and pretty, I'll just have to try this." Roudantaimi jumps around the room, rejoicing, before finally calming down and reloading the new weapon.
"Uh, oh, wait... Darn, there goes my chance to "come rose first". Very well then, lead bullets for you, mr. beetle!" the gnome sighs, his attempts for peaceful approaches foiled yet again.
With ruthless and newly practiced efficiency, the Strong Brute / Hamilton Trask vanguard surround the bombardier beetle. The strong brute's scythe slices into the beetles vestigial wing, puncturing the soft flesh below. Trask carves through two of the beetle's legs with one mighty blow of his enormous bardiche.
"SCREEE! TK TK TK!" The beetle howls in pain, flecks of acid from its maw creating pock-marks on the stone crypt floor. It clacks its mandibles once more, perhaps dimly realizing that it will never taste the sweet, pungent flesh of the dead again.
Finally, the diminutive Roundantaimi steps forth, takes aim with his shiny new musket. The sound of the gunpowder exploding in such a confined space briefly deafens the companions. As such, they are not able to hear the sound of the beetle's carapace tearing apart to allow the bullet passage, nor the sound of its insides blasting through the other side, accompanying the bullet on the last leg of its journey to the far wall. The remainder of the beetle teeters for a moment on its last four legs before crashing to the ground in a pile of broken shell, ichor and stomach acid.
The ringing in everyone's ears subsides and all is quiet in the room once more. With the adrenaline of battle no longer coursing through the veins of the adventurers, their other senses also sharpen. The acrid smell of burning accompanies the foul smell of death in here. Looking around, black smoke can be seen trailing faintly through the cracks of the door to the south.
The remains of a small fire smolder in the center of this broad chamber, letting off a plume of oily smoke. Fed by a heap of burning gear, debris, and more than few bones, the fire casts a flickering light across the walls of this room, partially obscured by the veil of smoke.