Tyr will shoot it with a blunt arrow.
Ulf's grip tightens on his hammer, waiting expectantly the moment he sees Tyr nocking an arrow to the string of his bow.
Gundar sees the skeleton propped on the chest like a guardian and does not know if he is in fact guarding the chest or if it is a cruel jape by the goblins. He sees Tyr's arrow fly overhead and strike the skeleton. Gundar raises his hammer ready if the skeleton comes to life and attacks
Ulf UP
Ulf! What did ye do to make this skeleton hate you so! Gundar says as he raises his hammer and attempts to swing at the skeleton's head.
The sudden fury of the skeleton's charge distracted Gundar just enough to cause his swing to go wide and miss the undead.
Tyr shoots again, but firing into melee misses.
Ulf roars at the damage he receives from the skeleton, taking a quick step backward and returning the favor, putting all the power he can muster into the swing of his hammer.
Ulf, then Elk'lyn, then Gundar, and finally Tyr all attack the skeleton, however in the heat of combat they all miss.
The Skeleton, however, swings with his sword and rakes with his claw, hitting Ulf both times, sorely wounding the warrior.
Ulf UP
Ulf seems both embarrassed and enraged by the attacks from the skeleton, determined that this abomination of undeath will not take him down without a fight. He steps backward one more time, taking another swing with his lucerne hammer, though he takes more care in his strike this time than the last.
Seeing the big one in trouble, Elk'lyn tries her best to bring the skeleton down.
Ulf, brother, you cannot take another raking like that! Casting defensively, Gundar will call upon Torag's healing for his friend.
Gundar is so distracted, he messes up his incantation to Torag, and he loses his spell.
Tyr fires a bunt arrow and then moves back so the cleric does not have to cast right on the front line. SStep back to cast. Do not risk loosing your spells.
Ulf, more careful with his swing this time, just connects with the skeleton and damages it. While Gundar doesn't concentrate hard enough on his healing spell, and spoils his casting, both Elk'lyn and Tyr loose blunt arrows at the creature and further wound it.
The skeleton tottering on its' last legs, manages to hit the north man and Ulf crashes to the ground in a heap.
Elk'lyn UP
Though rendered unconscious by the skeleton's last blow, the Northman's wounds seem to stanch themselves quickly; after only a moment, there is little blood issuing forth from the claw- and sword-wounds.
Seeing the big northerner go down Tyr takes an unimpeded shot with another blunt arrow.
The elf loose another arrow, however, she was worried with Ultra and it went astray.
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Gundar seeing that the mage stepped back will also step back so he can heal the Northman of his wounds and not have to worry about being raked by the skeleton's claws.
Seeing that the large human's wound's were only a little healed, Gundar will whisper, Don't get up yet and make yourself a target, perhaps we can bring this bag o' bones down quickly
Ulf's wounds stop bleeding as he stabilizes. Elk'lyn shoots another arrow at the skeleton, but it bounces off the ceiling. Gundar steps back and while out of reach of the Skeleton, casts a cure on Ulf, bringing him back from unconscious, and Tyr brings the Skeleton down.
Now that the skeleton is dead, Elk'lyn first search the corpse then the chest for any trap.
"It's safe" she declares opening it.
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Gundar will reach out his hand to help Ulf to his feet. That skeleton was almost the end of ye! Gundar says as he fishes in his backpack for the wand of cure light.
He then speaks the command word and taps the large human with the wand several times.
Do ye want me to tap ye again, or are ye good for now?
"Oof...many thanks to all of you. Ulf is not ready to join ancestors yet! Many more battles to fight and much more honor to earn with my axe." he offers, shaking his head at the offer of another healing and assuring Gundar that he's more than well enough to keep going.
After making sure Ulf is ok Tyr goes to help search. That guardian had better have been guarding something of worth! he says.
As Tyr and Elk'lyn start to search the chest, Gundar looks at the container. Hey Tyr! Is that box also mink something like the other box we found that the stinkin' goblins had? Gundar seems to remember that chest held quite a bit of coin, and if this chest has the same, Gundar will not have to worry about a bar tab at Ameiko's for a very long time.
Ulf looks at the ornately-decorated chest hesitantly. "Someone should try to open chest. Or see if it is trapped, at least. Ulf is hoping undead skeleton was only trap on this chest, though!" the burly man states.
Walking up to the skeleton, he looks at it more closely. "Should we take skeleton's sword back with us, too? Is strange...Ulf does not remember ever seeing blade like this..." he remarks, examining the odd weapon more closely.
Tyr will cast Detect Magic as part of his search. What is strange about the sword?
Now that the Skeleton is down, first thing is Gundar using his wand to mostly heal Ulf. While he is doing that, Elk'lyn inspects the body, and sees a bronze key around the creatures neck, a set of chain mail, and a sword that looks similar to a short sword, but the balance is wrong.
Taking the key, he heads to the chest and after inspecting it for traps, uses the key to open it. Inside are ten potions. a ring, a wand, a masterwork chain shirt, a masterwork cold iron sword similar to the one the skeleton had, in addition to 3,820 sp, 421 gp, and various pieces of fine jewelry worth 560 gp total.
When Tyr casts detect magic, the sword that Ulf picked up glows magical, as well as the potions, wand, and ring in the chest.
As Ulf examines the sword he notices that the handle contains a secret compartment.
Almost by accident, Ulf notices that there is a hidden compartment in the hilt of the sword. "Hey! Ulf has found something!" he declares, opening the compartment to see if there is anything hidden inside.
See? Safe and sound as I said! And wow! Such beautiful things inside! I’m sure Ameiko will love one of those she says displaying one of the fine jewelry ”don’t you agree?” completes the elf grinning like a child.
Finally, something worth considering giving her! I’m sure Ameiko will like it!
At Ulf statement she moves closer Full of secret things is it not? Secret here, secret there, secret, secret, secret thing, you say? What is it?
But that gives her an idea.
I’ll search the chest again, maybe it have a secret compartment inside!
Shame, there's nothing here she says after inspecting the chest again.
Gundar's eyes open wide as he sees the treasure that they found and he licks his lips at the thought of the ale he will be able to buy. His eyes see the masterwork chain shirt and he picks it up. Does anyone want this? If not, I would want it since it is better made than the chain shirt I am currently wearing. As he says this, he points to some spots where the chains in his chain shirt have already started to bend from the encounter at the goblin camp. Gundar still wants to know about the chest. This chest is fancy, is it like the one the goblins had and do you think it came from the shipwrecks? He looks at Tyr when he says this since there hasn't seemed to have been a question the Elf hasn't answered.
See? Safe and sound as I said! And wow! Such beautiful things inside! I’m sure Ameiko will love one of those she says displaying one of the fine jewelry ”don’t you agree?” completes the elf grinning like a child.
Finally, something worth considering giving her! I’m sure Ameiko will like it!
At Ulf statement she moves closer Full of secret things is it not? Secret here, secret there, secret, secret, secret thing, you say? What is it?
But that gives her an idea.
I’ll search the chest again, maybe it have a secret compartment inside!
[dice=Perception]1d20+8
Shame, there's nothing here she says after inspecting the chest again.
Quite a cache. Tyr agrees. First he looks over the chest trying to discern its history. Then getting comfortable Tyr sets out to see what he can learn about the magic items the group has found.
Tyr looks over the trove, and taking time to sort thru each potion, the wand and the ring, he identifies five potions of cure light wounds, two potions of cure moderate wounds, three potions of lesser restoration, a ring of climbing, a wand of identify with 19 charges.
Also looking at the sword, he learns that it is a +1 sword, and once per day, it can cast shield other on any creature touched by the blade while you wield it.
Ulf finds a small mithral tube inside the handle of the sword. Also, as he looks at the sword, with the loose handle, he thinks that it would not strike true.
Opening the mithral tube, there is a note written on a fine piece of paper, that none of you can read.
AS Tyr identifies each item, Gundar is dizzy trying to keep track of it all. It will be a relief to meself if ye divide the healing potions amoung yourselves. Torag blesses me with healing and I feel better knowing that ye all have a chance if I can't get to ye. Same with the potions of restoration. I can't cast that spell now, but I will soon. As for the wand, I say let Tyr have it, it seems like he is pretty good at identifying things, but just in case he gets stumped!
Turning to Ulf.
About your broken sword, I know plenty of dwarves that would fix that right up for ye, but unfortunately they are too far away. There might be someone in Sandpoint to fix it though
"Is generous offer, friend Gundar, but Ulf is more worried about finding out what is written on this paper. Was carried by very strong undead guarding very ornate treasure chest. I think must have been for or from someone important. We should see if someone in Sandpoint can translate. "
I think I can fix the sword when we get back to town. I can cast Mending. Tyr says. How about we all take one potion of Cure Light. Elk'lyn and Ulf take the Cure mods as well. I take the last Cure Light to carry for the group. And Gundar keeps up with the three potions of Lesser Restoration for us? I'll take the wand for now, even though I might want to sell it later. Ulf, you take the ring for now too. Later we can decide if we should keep it or sell it.
Hmm. thinking about it, I do not know enough yet to mend the sword. Someday, but not for a while I fear. Show we continue on?
"We leave chest here and come get it when we are leaving cave, yes? We should not leave it here to rot. Maybe this language and sword are Minkaian? We should take to Ameiko and see if she knows what it says."
Good idea Ulf. I was thinking the same thing. Onward then.
Gundar sees that the only passageway exiting this cavern seems to be covered in more water. Yep! Onward then he repeats Tyr but with less conviction. Eyeing the water he sweeps his hand. After you, Ulf.
The Northman nods, taking a deep breath before he heads to the front of the group, keeping his axe at the ready just in case the cave isn't finished with its surprises yet, preparing to lead them in the direction they haven't yet traveled.
Elk’lyn takes her position at the end of the line, paying attention from any danger that might come from that direction.
”Ulf, good work with that secret in the sword. We should finish this fast, so we can get back, deliver the news and enjoy our new found prize.”
You finish exploring the cave system. There are two areas that you spend some time on. One a watery cave, and the other an area that had a nest of some creature in it, but is now abandoned. Whether it was the skeletons, or the goblins that caused the creature to leave is unsure.
Taking the ornate chest with you, you make your way back to Sandpoint, arriving there just as the sun is about to set.
Tyr will map out the cave system completely as well as finish his map of the swamp.
Back to the rusty dragon. Tomorrow we can sell some of this stuff we do not need and continue to better equip ourselves.
I guess we should first check in with the sherif and let him know what we found. Tyr corrects himself. After reporting in and a good mean at the Dragon Tyr plans to scribe a scroll before sleeping.
Gundar's mouth starts watering when he hears that we are heading to the Rusty Dragon and the thought of some ale and food. He is disappointed when Tyr then suggests the sheriff, but he knows this is the correct course. Aye! Since it was the sheriff that started us on this quest, we should let him know that we finished sooner than later. Besides he might have something else he wants us to do that will put even more gold in our pockets! Then we can eat and drink until the wee hours of the morning!
"Ulf agrees that we should go to Hemlock first. I think after we should see if Ameiko is in Rusty Dragon so we can show her the paper we found in undead's sword. It might be important."