Herri instantly reacts to the motion and strikes at the nearest enemy.
ZELL !
"Oh come on! First goblins now a bag of bones? For crying out loud stay dead!"
Thrusting would be useless against something without any muscle. Dropping the dagger Nover moves in and attempts to strike with a haymaker towards the skeletons ribcage hoping to land a clean hit.
I can do little in such a small battlefield, but maybe I can divert their attention Bellamy pulled his arm back and then threw his previously drawn dart at one of the skeletons.
Herri misses the skeleton then steps back away from the action to provide Nover access to the bone men.
"Out of the way Herri, your blade won't cut any skin since they don't have any."
Elaina draws her scimitar and stands on her toes, unable to see into the crypt over her companion's heads.
Nover reacts quickly to the shrieks of Zella, imploring the slightly slower-reacting cleric to move aside.
Herri takes a swipe at a skeleton, but the surprise of the situation is too great and he hits the door jamb. He proceeds to take Nover's advice, backing away and...
Nover steps forward, dropping his dagger and swinging mightily at the skeletal foe to Zella's left. The skeleton reacts, clawing at Nover:
The skeleton scratches Nover arms as he lunges forward, but Nover more than repays the skeleton for the wounding, blasting it into bone fragments.
Elaina draws her scimitar and waits, the doorway too congested.
Bellamy draws his dart and with perfect aim manages to clip the skeleton inside. Unfortunately, the dart skips across a rib bone and appears to do minimal damage.
The remaining undead reaches forward, grabbing at the surprised bard.
The skeleton manages to grasp her armor, but is unable to pierce it.
Surprise Round summary: 1 Skeleton down, Nover 5 hp damage
Round Over
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Round 1: Nover, Herri, Elaina, Bellamy, Zella, Skeletons
A very startled Zella takes a swing at the remaining skeleton with her sword and then tried to back out of the chamber.
With an overly fanciful flip in the air, Bellamy is able to better see the skeleton that tried to attack Zella. Before gravity could claim him once more a ball of flame radiated in the sorcerer's open palm, it then extended, appearing like a pseudo-javelin that he happily launched at their remaining foe with a swing of his arm
With one skeleton turned to powder Nover turns to the other one.
"Don't worry Ms. Zella, I've got your back."
Nover steps into the room, enraged at his injury. Rearing back, he lands on the second skeleton, as well. The blow is not quite as solid, but the monster remains standing until...
Bellamy dexterously weaves his spear of flame around his companions, the bone minion shattering at the fiery impact.
Combat Over
"I told you! I told you guys! Naked undead!"
"Naked doesn't count for skeletons. There's nothing to see there anyway."
Zella gives Nover a quick hug of thanks, despite the height difference. "Thank you Nover, I can't think of many people that would just attack a skeleton with naught but their fists."
Zella turns back to look towards Father Zantus. "Father, has this graveyard been plagued by undead before?"
Nover, you sir continously burn through our enemies thus I am entrusted that you will continue to fight gloriously from the front. Your earlier suggestion on strategy is now come to fruition. The front is yours for good.
Herri puts away his sword instead readying a javelin as he moves to the back of the party.
Nover, and Zella I hope that the inspirations I provide from Iomedae will be more worthy than the swings of my longsword.
Looking over the remnants of the skeleton, Nover is surprised by the hug. But grateful, and beneath his beard one an detect a small blush.
"Twas nothing. Plus do you see anything to cut or stab? I'm also very sturdy if you haven't noticed. And you are very welcome Zella. Healers love me, or at least my coin, that's why I wear armor."
Ever adventurous, Bellamy was kneeling down next to one of the shattered remains of their skeletal enemies "He couldn't take the pressure of your personality it seems" He commented as he looked back at Nover, then he got up and approached the fallen piece of cloth, as he got closer he held out his open palm at a downward angle and tried to sense if there was any arcane power within the vault or the piece of clothing.
Bellamy's scan produces a faint magic aura from the robe, otherwise the crypt is empty of magic.
Seeing that it was the only thing that had any traces of magic, Bellamy lifted up the robe and brought it back with him "I can feel a bit of magic radiating from it"
He raised up the discard piece of clothing for all to see "I wonder who our disrobed suspect is?" He asked with a jovial tone as moved the cloak around in his hand.
Sheriff Hemlock steps forward after the brief scuffle, eyes widening slightly. "Did you find anything else besides the robe?"
Father Zantus first looks distraught, then outraged. "How dare they release the undead in this place of rest!"
Sheriff Hemlock looks to Bellamy grudgingly, "Any ideas?"
"So the little green guys broke in and raised the dead? Why would they do that? Are goblins known for their necromantic abilities?"
"Our now naked intruder left nothing else behind" Bellamy held his hand close to the robe, and his face took on a surprisingly serious look as he focused on it once more.
"Maybe the little buggers just have a perverted sense of humor and thought this would be a grand joke to play upon us?"
"At any rate, we should do a sweep of the graveyard to make sure there are no naked goblins lingering about. I am sure that Father Zantus would like to re-consecrate this tomb as soon as possible and I would feel better knowing that it was safe for him to do so."
A search of the crypt reveals nothing new, the missing bones of Father Tobyn and the discarded robe the only items of interest.
A neutral mask covered Bellamy's face "Necromancy" He answered simply before handing the cloak to any who were interested in studying it "Would link well with the skeletons, no?" The black haired man took a few steps away from the group and then looked at Zella "You will hear no objections coming from my mouth" He replied with half a smile.
"I told you guys the goblins seemed organized. This wasn't planned by goblins, this was smarter. But what nefarious purposes could somebody have for the bones of a priest?"
Nover thinks for a moment before asking.
"Maybe this was more personal, did the late father have any enemies?"
"So they broke in to steal a dead guy. That's a reasonable goal. Maybe he was their leader, the tallest goblin ever, and they wanted him back. I'll go with you Zella, I'll keep you safe."
Elaina follows Zella, taking her lights with her.
Herri turns to Father and asks, "What manner of man or beast would deal in the likes of Necromacy in these parts?"
"I can't recall but it does seems I remember something in the past regarding Necromacy. Does anyone else know, let me think."
Father Zantus gives Elaina a sharp look, his mouth twisting in fury, but Sheriff Hemlock answers first. "Father Tobyn was a human, Elaina. He was the high priest of the Church of Desna until the terribly tragic fire five years ago burned down the church and took his life and that of his daughter, Nualia."
Zantus sputters for a moment before answering Nover's question, "Heavens no! Father Tobyn was loved by all, as far as I know. He offered aid and help to any who asked for it, no matter their professed faith."
If nothing else is forthcoming from the Father or the Sheriff, Zella goes ahead and head back out for the quick sweep of the graveyard.
Beyond the tracks already found, there is nothing of interest that Zella find in the graveyard.
Sheriff Hemlock approaches the remaining group, "Please keep this between us until further notice. I appreciate your help in this matter." With that, the Sheriff and Father start to walk back to the Garrison.
When done, Zella will return to the Dragon for another drink before heading to bed.
Looking around the crypt Nover looks for the one with Nualia's name on it.
"Hmm, you said his daughter was also caught in the fire. While the father's body was here, what about hers? It was before my time here but what was she like?"
"I'm not done investigating! Where's his daughter buried?"
Herri thinks it is about time to head back to the Dragon for a drink and a look into his future. Before leaving he states to the others,
"There are many questions that remain unclear about today's events and our visit to the Boneyard. The goblin raid, Mr. Foxglove, necromacy and its ties to the death of Father Tobyn and his daughter, or at least his crypt. I think I will return to the Dragon for a nightcap and reading. The cards may tell me more of our future."
Once back at the Dragon Herri begins his reading...
Father Zantus and Sheriff Hemlock shake hands, the Sheriff continuing to the Garrison while the priest walks back a few paces to answer questions. "The fire was horrific. We found the remains of Father Tobyn in his room, but in the sublevels were Nualia's room, and there it was that the fire was hottest. Naught was recovered of her, my friends."
Father Zantus closes his eyes for a moment, his brow furrowing, clearly distraught by the event which gave him the title Father. He begins to walk slowly through the graveyard, bidding you follow.
"Nualia was a lovely child, and an even lovelier youth. She was shy and awkward, because of her heritage and how the other children treated her." Comprehension dawns on his face. "Forgive me, my friends, I forget you are not natives of this area. Nualia was heaven-touched. Father Tobyn took her in at a young age, but she was not of his blood."
He stops at a small tombstone. "This is her grave, though the fire left us nothing to bury."
"This is better thought on after a night's rest" Commented Bellamy, walking away from the graveyard with slow and relaxed steps. Things were clearly growing serious if necromancy was involved The theft of Tobyn's body does not seem like something goblins would be interested in Nover's theory of someone else being behind this was by the most likely, but that wasn't a good thing, not for them or the town anyway.
Lights and noise still buzzed from the Rusty Dragon, it seems that people were far too engrossed in their happiness to consider the lateness of the hour The poor lady of the Rusty Dragon is in there struggling, its too bad that she only has me to swoop in and save her Bellamy smiled at his own jest and enter the dragon, waving to those who greeted him and grinning at whoever mentioned their exploits in today's raid.
"It seems that I am a free man" Said the sorcerer as soon as his eyes found Ameiko "Are you not going to jump into my arms so we can walk into the sunset?" This time he let the joke roll into his tongue instead of keeping it to himself.
Unsatisfied with the results, Nover sighs and turns toward the town.
"Ms. Elaina, the others probably have the right idea. If you'd like I can walk you back to whatever inn you are staying at and then I'll head home myself. It's been a long day, let's get some rest."
The Inn is still bustling with business, though it seems that the patrons still left in the tavern proper fall into two categories: Asleep at their table, or loud and drunk. The second category toasts and cheers as Herri, Zella, and Bellamy return to the Rusty Dragon, imploring them to tell again of their multiple battles with the goblin menace.
Ameiko has dark circles under her eyes and is clearly exhausted as Bellamy approaches. With a wry grin, she puts her wrist up to her forehead. "My hero. Alas, if ya carried me off into the sunset who would clean the tables and wipe the bar?" She chuckles and cocks her head, grinning at him.
Zella laughs at Bellamy's joke and Ameiko's response. "Before you are carried off into the sunset Miss Ameiko, could we please have some mugs of ale? We could use a nightcap before turning in for the night. My nerves still feel all worked up from today's earlier fighting. I swear I don't know how I'm going to fall asleep tonight."
Zella will follow Herri to a table to watch him lay out his cards for a reading.
"Of course, Lady Zella. Anything for the Heroes of Sandpoint." There is a fair bit of teasing in her reply, of course, but she dutifully fills three mugs for Zella, Herri, and Bellamy and sets them on the bar.
Returning her grin with his own, Bellamy lets his blue eyes hover to bar and tables "If the lady would allow me a moment" Spoke the sorcerer as he walked to a position in the inn that was relatively empty and kept him at fair distance from the tables and bar.
It began with a flick of the wrist and the snap of a finger. Streaks of arcane energy began forming and running over one of the tables, liberating it of anything that made it unclean, next came various and flamboyant movements of the arms, and where ever they pointed a table experienced the same event, soon enough all the tables within view were looking spotless. With an over exaggerated twist, Bellamy turned towards the bar, he smiled crossed both arms in front of his face then spread the apart in a flashy manner, causing the streaks of energy to follow his motion and begin working on the bar as well.
After he was done, the black haired man grabbed an empty chair, placed at their table and motioned towards it with both hands while he looked at Ameiko "I apologize for robbing you of work, but as you have said before I am quite the rogue"
She chuckles during the weavings and castings, rolling her eyes at one point when Bellamy looks at her in the middle of the show. She arches a finely crafted blow eyebrow upon his invitation to their table.
She mocks sighs, "What a display. If only I had a more reliable fellow to do that for me, instead of a rogue such as yourself." She grabs a pitcher of ale and sits down in the proffered seat.
"Sad that we cannot always pick the company we keep" He returned with a a jest of his own as he took a seat on one of the empty chairs at their table.
"But at least you can rest knowing that the worst is over...that is until the next mob of customers invades your inn" Bellamy let out a short chortle, as he laid back in his chair.
Herri obtained nothing clear from his reading of the Harrow cards and put them away netly in his belt pouch. he then reached to the tablefor his pint of Ale anddowned it with a breath. Finally turning to Zella before getting up he said,
"Good Night my Varisian friend, the lovely lady Zella. It has been a stressful day and I need to pray before bed. Maybe tomorrow today's events will become more clear."
Herri waves to all present and heads to his room where he will pray for his spells for a new day.
"Good night Herri. May sleep find you quickly and your dreams be pleasant."
Zella moves herself back to the bar after he leaves and asks for a shot of something rather more potent than mere ale as a sleep aid before she takes herself up to her bed.