Not terribly confident in her balance and coordination, Estietre tsks as the group approaches the slick narrow ledge.
"Perhaps I should keep an eye out? Let me know if there is anything worthwhile."
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Most of the party climbs up to the top of the ledge, leaving Estietre and Sharpmaw below. Upon reaching the top you clearly see the fifteen-foot-wide opening from which the water gushes some ten feet below you.
Even an accomplished swimmer such as Hana would have great difficulties against the flow of the water coming from the opening.
"I do not think we can go in this way," says Hana.
"I am at a loss for how to proceed."
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Slowly the party makes their way across the slippery, algae covered surface toward the open doorway to the south.
Two stone doors stand open at the base of this cliff above a curling spur of rock. Seaweed covers the doors, hanging down in thick green and black sheets, just obscuring some sort of carvings on their surface.
Beyond the doors, once those of you who need a light source have one, you see a long, steep stairwell leading upward. Following those stairs you find yourself in a large, man-made chamber.
Over a dozen stone pillars support this cavernous chamber’s sixty-foot-high vaulted ceiling. To the north, four empty alcoves sit in the walls, their edges carved to resemble yawning, fanged mouths. To the south, a pair of bronze doors that seem to drip with blood sit under a stone bridge that passes through the upper portion of the room from east to west forty feet above. The walls are decorated with unsettling carvings of bats, human sacrifice, and the walking dead. The dismembered, skeletal bodies of three humans lie scattered on the floor of this chamber.
As you enter the chamber, you are noticed by two skeletal figures from up on the stone bridge.
Initiative Order:
Adara
Skeletons
Hana
Dereje
Estietre
Lawdrak & Sharpmaw
Dereje looks about, marveling at the chamber's architecture while grimacing at the macabre decorations. If that was not proof enough that this was a place of evil, then the rising dead certainly were. Eyeing the skeletons with disdain, the paladin reaches for his pistol...
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Taking note of the skeleton's elevation, the Suli oracle moves forward and provides the paladin a bit of guidance, hoping that his shot is true.
The skeletons on the bridge each reach for javelins, one attempts to skewer Hana while the other tries the same with Dereje. The samurai-ko is able to side-step the javelin, but the paladin is not as fortunate.
(range vs. FF AC)
(range vs. FF AC)
Even as she burns away Dereje's distractions with divine guidance, Adara helpfully chirps,
"They are skeletons."
In the flickering light of her scimitar's magical flame, the suli suddenly seems flustered. "Well, uh...i-in case you couldn't already tell."
Giving Sharpmaw a clicking command to stay put , Lawdrak moves in, loading a stone in his sling, and hurls at the skeleton on his right. (#1)
Estietre slips into the chamber, and heads for the nearby alcove. She takes a few seconds in cover to decide what to do next, and judge the distance to the skeletons' perch.
"Skeletons? Almost a relief they are nothing more than that."
Hana wastes no time in racing forward to slash at one of the skeletons (#2).
"These, I know what to do with," she says as she goes. "Very straightforward."
Since there is no clear way up, Hana does nothing.
Rushing into the room, Dereje whips out his pistol and points it up at one of the skeletons, only to be nailed by one of their javelins. The sudden blow throws off his aim completely - nonetheless, with an explosive retort, the pistol sends its bullet flying into some random direction.
"Perhaps the best option is to move on from this room and leave them to their bridge?" Adara suggests as they continue to warily watch the skeletons.
Estietre nods "I agree... My spells can't reach them either. I'll head to the doors now to see if we can get through." She moves under the bridge.. getting as close as she can while remaining under cover.
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Estietre rushes forward,reaching a spot where it would be difficult at best for the skeletons to hit her with their javelins. Looking around she sees carvings on the wall of depicting all manner of atrocities visited upon humans and serpentfolk alike by tall men and women wearing ragged capes and bearing fanged mouths. Images of bats, bat-like humanoids, and themes of cannibalism and the consumption of still living victims are common as well.
Taking a closer look at the closed bronze doors, you see no sign of a locking mechanism. Based on the location of the hinges it would appear that the doors open into the room.
Lawdrak and Sharpmaw run forward to shelter under the bridge.
"We don't have much choice in the matter. Those skeletons are out of my weapon's effective range," Dereje agrees, following Estietre under the bridge after narrowly dodging the next javelin that comes his way.
Seeing her comrades are in accord with her suggestion, Adara follows along to cover.
Hana keeps her katana in a guard position and moves as directed.
"Ready?" she says, prepared to put her shoulder to the bronze doors.
Adara dashes forward, making a quick sweep of the room and the two stairways.
Hana pauses to see which way Adara dashes.
Not interested in having any more javelins thrown at him, Dereje follows Adara's lead.
Hoping the landing leads to the path which allows access to their current antagonists, Adara darts up the eastern stair with flaming scimitar in hand to light the way.
"Let's try this way first," she hisses to her fellow survivors.
If the landing has cover from the skeletal missile fire, the oracle will pause for the others to catch up to her.
"Both stairs appear to turn heading up and to the north. Be ready for hidden traps and foes both dead and alive, I imagine."
Hana moves quickly up the stairs by Adara, ready to protect the oracle if more foes should come around the corner.
Druid and dinosaur follow Adara.
Estietre follows as well... though she pauses at the bottom of the steps until the others make their way up.
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The party rushes along the eastern path, going two flights of stair that seem to carry you some thirty to forty feet upward. At the top of the second flight of stairs, you have two choices - continue toward the set of double doors to the north or turn back west toward what you assume would take you back toward the skeleltons, but at least on equal footing with them.
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The party rushes along the eastern path, going two flights of stair that seem to carry you some thirty to forty feet upward. At the top of the second flight of stairs, you have two choices - continue toward the set of double doors to the north or turn back west toward what you assume would take you back toward the skeleltons, but at least on equal footing with them.
"I don't like the thought of leaving enemies alive...moving...oh, you know what I mean - behind us. Especially if we leave in a hurry. I'd hate to catch a javelin in the back if we're already wounded. I think we should see if the doors to the west go out onto that bridge, and put the skeletons down."
"This seems wise," Adara agrees, nodding. "When within our range, I believe we are more than a match for some simple-minded undead."