Ramli sheds his clothes, and despite being weakened from the earlier fight with the shadow, manages to descend into the pool's depths to the bottom, and with the aid of his cantrip locate a single key radiating magic.
With some effort, Damvorak, Sad Rock, Alaric and Ugnoth all tug on the rope and bring Ramli back to the surface just as he was beginning to feel some fatigue from his endeavor.
Unsure exactly which door the key opens, the party moves up to the southeast door, and after checking it for traps, unlocks it with the key from the room with the firepit and continues on.
Here, a small stone bench sits in the center of this dusty chamber. On the far wall is a faded mural depicting the hero Kassen defeating the mercenaries at the entrance to this crypt, with his blade piercing the chest of the mercenary leader. These figures stand alone in the center of a scene of carnage, with dead villagers and mercenaries all around them.
The hallway continues before turning left and ending at yet another door.
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Not wanting to waste the effort of his dis-pantsing, Sad waddles over to the corner to finish relieving himself., still sure that his solution would have worked if given the chance.
My ideas are good too. Sad not monster. Sad thinker.
Oops, Sad pee on foot again.
Hitching up his pants, he runs to help with Ramli's dive.
* * *
Perception
Sad looks around and waits for whatever is next.
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Damvorak will take a closer look at the bench as he passes the room in the rear. Seeing not much though, he's happy to press on to the far door. He will cast detect magic on the room just in case, and he keeps maintaining a light spell on his staff.
He does his best to avoid Sad's puddle as well in case that needs to be said. :)
A single pillar in the center of the room supports this wide, domed chamber. The pillar is surrounded by a pit, but a stone bridge crosses the pit on the south side. Dozens of arrows jut from holes in the pillar, facing every direction.
The pillar stutters slightly, as if it is about to do something.
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I think a trap is about to go off! Take cover or spread out!
Sad, alarmed, spreads out his arms and legs, standing like a starfish (if a starfish were 4' or so tall, make of more stony substance, had only 4 limbs, and was substantially dumber).
"Uglynot, how this help with trap?"
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Alaric stands amazed as Sad Rock unbuckles his trousers, standing transfixed as several questions about Oread anatomy are answered for him. "... when we tell the bards of our glorious struggles here, what say we leave this part out, agreed?"
___
Alaric brandishes his shield as he makes to spring into action, watching as Sad Rock spread-eagles and Ramli collapses into fits of laughter. Stunned, Alaric can do little but stare, scarcely remembering to raise his shield in self-defense before the trap is triggered.
Alaric and Ugnoth advance into the room, Alaric behind the relative safety of his shield.
Still awaiting: Damvorak, Ramli, Sad Rock
for
for
for
for
for
for
The central pillar finally jolts and begins to spin in a circle while the blunt-tipped arrows shudder within.
Two of the projectiles manage to find their way past Alaric's defense and thud into the man while Ugnoth also find two more missiles thudding into him
The door into the room slams shut.
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"Kassen you cowardly , that was... oouughhh... that was a knave's trick." the knight groans, shakily reaching for his healing wand and administering it as best he can to the enormous puncture wound in his armour. Finding his wits again, he looks to the Shoanti. "UGNOTH! The south door! Move move move!"
Ugnoth advances and opens the southern door, waving for Alaric to quickly move through and take cover. The knight steps forward, struggling for a moment to retrieve his wand and quickly mending his wounds while ultimately providing cover for Ugnoth.
The pillar continues to whirl and launch arrows.
for
for
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for
This time a lone arrow ricochets off Alaric's copious armor, yet two manage to sneak past him and into Ugnoth .
Ugnoth collapses to the floor with the latest injury, and Alaric steps over the man into the hallway beyond and then drags his unconscious form in
for
A single last arrow manages to find its way in through the southern door just as Alaric slams it shut .
For several more seconds, the thud thud thud of blunt arrows can be heard pummeling the walls and doors.
And then, silence.
A continuous carving of mourners runs along the walls here, leading to a staircase on the south side of the room.
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Alaric seems startled by how quickly the Shoanti's booming voice fills the hall. "Welcome back. Your people are a tenacious one, Shoanti. I suppose Bloodsworn Vale is reminder enough of that..." he says, helping the skald to his feet and opening the door to the pillar room once again and crying out to the others.
""
Alaric:
Damvorak:
Ramli:
Sad Rock:
Ugnoth:
Initiative:
Alaric:
Damvorak:
Ramli:
Sad Rock:
Ugnoth:
Skeletons:
Surprise Round
22 Ramli
17 Skeletons
16 Damvorak
11 Ugnoth
Round 1
26 Sad Rock
22 Ramli
17 Skeletons
16 Damvorak
14 Alaric
11 Ugnoth
After tending to Ugnoth's wounds and bringing the Shoanti to his feet, the five Pathfinders head into the room beyond with the intent to descend the stairs deeper into the crypt.
As soon as Alaric takes a few heavy steps into the room, four skeletons, dripping with what appears to be fresh blood, step out from hiding behind the four large columns and begin to advance towards Alaric.
Now Up: Ramli!
Ramli advances into the room and readies his staff for the approach of the four bloody skeletons.
The four undead comply with expectation, their old bones creaking and cracking as they advance, leaving a bloody trail behind.
Now Up: Damvorak and Ugnoth's surprise round actions.
Followed By: Sad Rock and Ramli's full round actions for round 1.
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Round Surprise, Initiative 16, Location: J19->I22
Weapon Equipped = Staff
Conditions = None
Hand of the Acolyte = 3/6
Resistant Touch = 6/6
Channel Energy = 3/3
Ferocity (Act 1 round at below 0hp)(1/1)
Spells
Cantrips DC 13: Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Stabilize
First Level DC 14: Identify, Command, Remove Fear
Damvorak, not wanting to take Sad Rocks space in the front lines, instead tries to move to I-22 where he can help the party defensively. He tumbles the last little bit to avoid an AoO from S4.
for
As Damvorak tries to tumble past the skeleton to secure a better position, it reaches out for the cleric and tears a long gash along his back.
[dice S2 vs Sad]1d20+2[/dice] for
[dice S2 vs Sad]1d20+2[/dice] for
[dice S3 vs Alaric]1d20+2[/dice] for
[dice S3 vs Alaric]1d20+2[/dice] for
Surprise Round
22 Ramli : Moves to I23
17 Skeletons : Advance
16 Damvorak : Moves to I22, AoO hits for 6 dmg
11 Ugnoth : (no charge) swings, destroys S4
Round 1
26 Sad Rock : Moves to K23 (S4 is down), misses
22 Ramli : Destroys S1
17 Skeleton 2 : Claws Sad for 6 damage
17 Skeleton 3 : Misses Alaric
16 Damvorak
14 Alaric
11 Ugnoth
Round 2
26 Sad Rock :
22 Ramli :
The Pathfinders advance and Ugnoth and Ramli make quick work of two of the bloody skeletons. Two remain and one manages to claw Sad Rock .
Deathless (Su) A bloody skeleton is destroyed when reduced to 0 hit points, but it returns to unlife 1 hour later at 1 hit point, allowing its fast healing to thereafter resume healing it. A bloody skeleton can be permanently destroyed if it is destroyed by positive energy, if it is reduced to 0 hit points in the area of a bless or hallow spell, or if
its remains are sprinkled with a vial of holy water.
Now Up: Everyone!
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Round 1, Initiative 16, Location: I22
Weapon Equipped = Staff
Conditions = None
Hand of the Acolyte = 3/6
Resistant Touch = 6/6
Channel Energy = 3/3
Ferocity (Act 1 round at below 0hp)(1/1)
Spells
Cantrips DC 13: Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Stabilize
First Level DC 14: Identify, Command, Remove Fear
Damvorak watches the bone crunching with interest. As the front line seems to be doing so well, he takes out his cure light wounds wand and heals himself of his minor injury sustained in an eagerness to help.
Two more skeletons topple to the ground with the bludgeoning assault of the party.
Wet blood continues to form and drip from the bones of the fallen creatures.
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Round 2, Initiative 16, Location: I22
Weapon Equipped = Staff
Conditions = None
Hand of the Acolyte = 3/6
Resistant Touch = 6/6
Channel Energy = 2/3
Ferocity (Act 1 round at below 0hp)(1/1)
Spells
Cantrips DC 13: Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Stabilize
First Level DC 14: Identify, Command, Remove Fear
As the fight winds to a close, Damvorak brandishes his holy symbol of Nethys and commands the dead to, well, stay dead. He channels energy to harm undead.
"They need to be purged, even if only a little, or they get back up again." he explains as he kicks a bone or two with his foot.
You all double back to the unexplored door, and sure enough, the key found at the bottom of the pool fits the lock and the door opens.
Expecting skeletons beyond, instead this small room features only 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.
The first item with a note is a masterwork flail alongside an oil of magic weapon (labeled). The note clearly indicates it was for one of the youths of Kassen who was training to be a knight and perished on his journey. Based on the mayor's insistence, it would appear this item is for Alaric to take in the youth's stead.
The second "gift" is a wand of cure light wounds (10 charges remain) along with a scroll of lesser restoration. It would appear this item was for an acolyte of Erastil who met his demise, but instead may find good use in Damvorak's capable hands.
The third "gift" appears to be a wand of produce flame (10 charges remain) and a scroll of barkskin. One of the youths was apparently being tutored by a druidess and these items would find a home in Sad Rock's hands.
The fourth "gift" appears it was intended for a young bard and is a wand of lesser confusion (10 charges) and a scroll of eagle's splendor. Presumably, this would make sense in Ugnoth's hands although he is a bit atypical for a bard.
The fifth and final "gift" is a wand of magic missile (CL1; 10 charges) along with a scroll of scorching ray. Presumably this was for Holgast's student and would find a home in Ramli's hands.
With the items picked up and distributed, the party makes their way back to the stairs that descend down.
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Sad looks over all the items, his curiosity showing.
"Sad like magic, but this want not a good want," Sad holds up the lvl 1 wand of Produce Flame, created by a druidic crafter. "This want not last good enough for more than one punch."
Sad points out the flaw in the magic for all to see.
"Sad magic fire last two punches," Sad exclaims as it is all to clear how Sad's magic is better.
Sad quite enjoys having the scroll of barkskin.