Segang holds up his two handed weapon. No free hand here, but extra light would be good with me.
Cherias nods and touches Segang's massive hammer. It begins glowing with the same radiance as a torch.
"Not too bright for you, is it, Melianthe?"
Melianthe sighs. "We should get Segang some darkvision goggles," she says. "Say what you will about the Uskwood; I do believe I long to visit there. But yes, I can manage."
The hallway runs for approximately sixty feet, dropping down three tiers of steps, before emptying into a large room. Though obscured by centuries, Segang notes the workmanship and markings of the Shoanti in the construction. The ceiling above arches in a dome nearly twenty feet high, and is supported by our wide pillars of stone. The walls are lined with skeletons caked into the mud -- human bones mostly, but here and there smaller bones might be from animals and halflings, or perhaps children. Fifteen-foot-square pits sit to the east and west, each filled with a large heap of hundreds of bones. To the south, a crude hole has been gouged into the wall, providing access to a tunnel.
Absinthe enters the ossuary forty feet ahead of the group, and sees nothing amiss despite the gruesome remains.
Melianthe casts Detect Magic.
Seren shudders as he hides in the back,"I hate places of death ... the walking dead freak me out."
Segang catches up to Absinthe in the large room and stands ready to defend the group.
Absinthe acknowledges Segang's presence with a nod, but then turns back to watching the room. The tiefling is squatting like a gargoyle, her tail switching to and fro almost lazily.
"One has found no traps," she reports when the others arrive, "yet. Shall one continue ahead once again whilst you all hold position here?"
Cherias peers about as well, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end in nervousness. He mutters a prayer for guidance in hopes of calming himself.
Absinthe enters the Ossuary, looking around for traps and other dangers, but focusing a bit too much on the floor and ceiling. She does not see or hear the skeletons emerge from the west pit. Her first warning of danger is as Segang and the others reach the entrance and shout. She spins, finding two skeletal dogs inches away, and four skeletal humans armed with crude blades just behind.
The dogs both gnash at Absinthe, and though she's caught flat-footed, her armor protects her well. Two of the skeletons move to pincer flank, but again she avoids any direct hits. The other two move around to the north, apparently unaware of the party coming down the stairs.
Segang, concerned for Absinthe moves to J17, allows the familiar rage to take him, boosting his strength. he shouts a war cry and power attacks the undead directly in front of him bringing down the hammer in a bone shattering swing. If he hits he cleaves into the one next to it.
Cherias shrieks in terror, but runs (or limps) towards danger, rather than away from it. He moves 20 feet forward and establishes a lifelink with Absinthe. As he moves he raises his walking stick, ready to do his best to smash a skeleton with it if needed.
As Segang passes Cherias, the large man overhears the smaller muttering to himself, "I won't let them go like Eric... won't let them go like Eric..."
"Tzchverzit!" Absinthe curses, and she launches into a series of backflips and cartwheels, which carry her away from the stabbing, snapping bones and towards the others.
"One apologizes for the mess," she says as she comes to a stop near Segang and launches a kick at the skull of the skeleton currently fighting the barbarian. "One was seeking traps of a less necromantic nature."
Cherias will offer Absinthe his cane to use as a club if needed.
"Let me detain them!" shouts Melianthe.
She casts Web centered on L17. She moves rather cautiously to H17, boar spear held out in front of her somewhat uselessly.
Seren fires an acid glob at the nearest skellie not engaged on melee.
Cherias moves up into the room, making a mystic connection with Absinthe. Segang runs in just behind, taking down the two nearest skeletons with a single, powerful swipe of his hammer. Moving with nimble grace, Absinthe extricates herself from the attacking undead, retreating to Segang's side. A moment later, Melianthe's web fills the southern half of the chamber; unfortunately, only one of the skeletons is effectively entangled. Seren comes down the stairs, shooting a glob of acid, but his aim is distracted and he nearly hits Cherias in the back of the head.
The free skeletons trudge through the webbing, slashing at Absinthe and biting at Segang, respectively. The first misses badly, but the latter chomps down hard on Segang's ankle.
A large bone creature emerges from the eastern pit, the size and shape of a bear. Strangely, it has an owl-like head but with a sharply serrated beak. It clatters into the fray and slams Absinthe with a large claw, still razor sharp, even in death.
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Cherias grunts in pain as Absinthe's wounds are healed and matching slashes open on the young man's body. He establishes the same kind of connection to Segang, ready to absorb his pain as well. He steps back to avoid the claws of the great skeleton , and pulls a scroll out of his backpack, ready to cast it if needed.
ahem--Melianthe targets the owlbear skeleton and cackles horribly to boot.
Snarling, Absinthe snatches Cherias' cane out of his hands -- "One shall return this presently! Kindly keep one alive for the nonce!" -- and lashes out at the dog skeleton that has clamped onto Segang.
"Bigger, meaner, skeletons ... yay," Seren spits dryly.
Another acid splash at an unengaged skellie.
As Cherias steps back, Segang brings his earthbreaker around, crushing another two skeletons with a single, sweeping blow. Melianthe hexes the owlbear skeleton, while Absinthe swings and misses with Cherias's cane. Seren sends another acid slash into the wall.
The second skeletal dog bites free of the webs, moving up and drawing Segang's blood with a minor bite. Absinthe avoids a clumsy sword swing from the remaining human skeleton. The owlbear skeleton rears in a silent roar before raining down heavy claws and a telling bite upon Absinthe.
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Cherias takes 10 damage from the lifelink, healing both Abby and Segang by 5. He channels energy again to heal.
Melianthe hexes the other skeleton warrior with Misfortune, maintaining Misfortune on the owlbear as well.
"Miserable beast!" the tiefling howls, and she tries to catch the undead bear a telling blow.
Concerned for Absinthe segang yells. Step back girl! He then tries to deal with the smaller threats since he cannot get to the larger one. He swings his hammer at the dog skeleton.
Cherias channels holy energy to heal the group and himself. Melianthe hexes the remaining human skeleton. Segang swings at the dog but it dodges the hammer blow.
Absinthe slams the owlbear with the cane, crunching a few rib bones, then Seren's acid glob splashes against its shoulder, hissing as it corrodes the bones there.
The skeletons continue to attack with bites, claws and blade, but manage no telling hits.
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Segang swings his mighty hammer yet again.
Absinthe utters a triumphant screech and tries to whack the skeletal owlbear again.
Melianthe hexes the doggy skeleton, continuing to chortle maniacally at the other two ensorceled undead.
Seeing the battle turning in their favor, Cherias relaxes, and heals himself of some of the damage he's taken from Segang and Absinthe. .
Shooting again
Just embarrassing.
Cherias heals himself of most of the shared wounds, while Melianthe hexes the dog skeleton. A moment later, Segang demolishes both it and the remaining human skeleton with a crushing swipe. Absinthe slams the owlbear again with the cane, knocking off a rib bone. Seren throws another acid glob, splashing the wall again with a drunkard's aim.
The owlbear continues its fierce assault, clawing and biting at Absinthe, but is again foiled by Meliathe's efficacious curse.
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Melianthe stays where she is, cackling madly at the owlbear skeleton.
Cherias will hold his action to see what Segang and Abby make of the remaining foe.