Thalrik immediately knows this is a burning skeleton... They emit an aura of fire and explode upon death...
Ferdin's attack barely misses, an he is hit for fire damage...
The skeleton screams and bursts into ghostly flames. It swipes at Ferdin with it's boney claw...
... But misses the man entirely!
Round 2
ooc]I hate those. first time i encountered them was in a pfs game, in a small room of an underground structure, there was like 6 of them and the mage won init he threw and AcidBall (fireball) killed all of them. and we the frontliner took all the exploding damage.[/ooc]
Arthur steps up and swings his club once more, completely clobbering the skeleton with a massive blow to the skull. On impact, the skeleton explodes in a fiery eruption.
Everyone makes reflex saves
Reflex
Save is DC 13 so you all take half damage so far...
fire damage
Darlin shakes his head at the skeletons. "May their souls finally know peace. Now, come close that I may bless our wounds."
Channel Energy: healing for everyone.
thank you Darlin. Ok lets move on then shall we?
Darlin nods. "We have some more souls to put to rest and a tomb to investigate. " He leads the way deeper into the crypt.
"Not exactly a goblin there sheriff. Glad you brought us along? I didn't 't think there were any undead in these parts."
Thalrik nodded his agreement.
"There likely werent before whoever is leading the goblins came here. I noticed some larger boot prints outside. It is very likely that we are dealing with a necromancer, a powerful one at that, to have created this." He kicked the ashen remains of the burning skeleton.
"We would do well to be on our guard. Necromancers rarely survive long enough to gain power, without a devious mind to go with the evil. Question everything you see, assume nothing."
Lighting a Light spell of his own, attached to the fabrict on his jackets shoulder, the wizard for once moved to the front of their group, eyes scanning the shadowy darkness beyond the light.
wow sorry to disappoint everyone, but that's totally all the tomb there is. Just a tomb... Size of a small room or so...no dungeon crawling quite yet... Lol. You do notice a few things, however
You find a robe in the corner, and several patches laying on the ground next to it. These patches depict a skull in them, and appear to have been ripped off the robe. The robe glows very faintly magical.
With visible apprehension, Thalrik bent down and picked one of the patches off the floor. Looking it over, turning it in his hands he wondered aloud.
"Thats odd. A robe with skull motifs on it. Why leave it here? And more importantly, why tear off the patches?"
Reaching for the robe, he stopped short, unsure whether he should touch it. Taking a few moments to look the cloth over with a Detect Magic spell, he tried to discern if touching it would be dangerous.
Darlin looks at the pattern. I don't know what these. Represent. Perhaps the father would? We should show this to him.
Well, being a learned wizard, thalrik can almost immediately recognize this as a wondrous item called a robe of bones. Similar to a robe of useful items, a powerful necromancers endows these patches with create undead spells, allowing anyone to unleash the magic by tearing off the patches. Without it's patches, the robe is essentially a normal robe besides a slight lingering aura of magic. This robe contains no more patches.
well due to the fifth party member, we don't have quite enough to level. You currently all sit at around 800 xp, and level at 1300. Close though!
I'm going to level you up with the xp as a guideline, but in general, if anything, I will level you up sooner.
Well then if the area is now clean how about we go back outside and tell it to the sheriff and the priest. Are there remains that have been disturbed or worse?
The remains are completely missing, nowhere to be found. Gone. With a bit of insight, it becomes clear, for whatever reason, that the objective of this raid was to steal these remains.
After consulting with the sheriff, he agrees with your conjectures.
He insists you tell noone, and then hurries off without a word, saying he will be in touch. Night is approaching. A hot meal an some ale sounds in due order.
ok everyone, they will tell us whom these remains belong to, or we could ask ameiko also. Lets go home we should be just in time for diner.
Arthur will start walking toward the Rusty Dragon Inn
Bringing the robe with him, Thalrik burned the foul fabric in the tavern hearth the minute they returned to the inn.
"I shall have to contemplate the question of "why". If you need me I will be in my room."
And with that, he retired for the evening.
I definitely agree that we should keep this a secret. We can still see if we can find out more about the priest. It would be expensive to get someone to cast Speak with Dead for us, even if we could find someone capable. It might be best to ask some questions of the current priests. They are certain to know something.
"Excellent idea Dexter, there must be some information that the priests know about these circumstances. " Darlin pauses for a moment. "I wonder where the sheriff was hurrying off to. I'll have to ask him tomorrow. All this evil business has brought on a mighty thirst."
Ferdin, the remain of the priest were taken by none other than the human necromancer that left this robe inside the tomb. Oh then i am going to go home for dinner then until the sheriff has figured out something.
And with that Arthur starts walking toward the Rusty Dragon
Ferdin, you find the prints leaving the way they came from over the wall. It appears they then lead inland towards the river, and possibility ultimately the plateaues to the east.
Everyone heads back to the inn and is enjoying a hot meal and an ale thanks to the lovely Ameiko. She is casually serving a few other patrons while you all ponder the meaning of these remains being stolen.
Thalrik, in particular, muses on the idea that anyone could use one of these robes... And it is very possible it is not a necromancer that they are after, at least not directly.
With his knowledge of religion, he scours his memory for any idea about why someone would steal a priests remains. He remebers a few demon worshippers that use rituals involving corpses. He decides that most of these rituals deal with using a dead relatives, or someone close to you, because that draws the most power, along with the bodies of lieder victims...
Arthur, make a detect sarcasm check xp
Several years ago, the old Cathedral burned down in a tragedy that claimed the life of the Cathedral's priest, Father Tobyn, and his beautiful daughter, Nualia. Father Tobyn was well-loved by the town's people, and his passing was mourned by all. Nualia was an exceptionable beautiful young Aasimar woman, who many say was blessed by the goddess Desna herself.
You all remember hearing tale of the old cathedral during one of the many speeches during the festival.
Asking Ameiko about this, she remarks that the fire was so intense, that no remains were found save those of father tobyn...
"No remains were found, eh? Hrm, well then lass, who all died in the fire other than Tobyn? Also, does he have an relatives still in sandpoint? Maybe if he did we could find them in addition to talking to the clergy,"
Darlin ponders. "But first another glass of this delightful beverage, to help my thinkin' skills."
Ameiko says...
well it is assumed Nualia died in the fire as well, along with a couple of the faithful who were staying at the cathedral. Nualia was always such a kind girl. I believe she felt embarrassed about her bloodline... She was always quiet. But her and I used to chat in occasion. She was a talented lute player in her own right. The whole town mourned her loss, along with that of father tobyn. Never have a met a gentler man. Maybe a bit too religious, but kind.
"Hrm, that be a sad story, but what is her condition that you mention? Also, if no remains were ever found, that seems odd in hindsight. I am far from an expert on these things, but I do know a bit about Fire, and it burns with an equal justice."
Hrrm. Didn't the current priest say his name was Tobyn as well? Perhaps its a family name, and whoever it was that took the body might need it to cast a spell on him.
Arthur will toast again with Darlin
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Ferdin sips on several ales, seemingly lost in thought. He ponders the day's events, and is troubled that the notable occurrences of the goblin attack and presence of undead in the crypt are very odd. Somehow these events are connected in some way, but how is still a mystery. He decides that he has had enough excitement for one day.
I can't make sense of today's events, and need some rest. I shall see you in the morning, he mumbles, as he heads off to his room...
Ameiko busies herself with cleaning up the commin room As the night winds down and guests start stumbling their way off to their beds, a surly Tian man drunkenly bursts into the Rusty Dragon. He begins yelling at Ameiko in a language none of you understand. They argue back and forth for quite a while, very angrily. Eventually, the man throws up his arms in disgust. At this point, he notices those party members still enjoying their ale.
you... You are the so called "heroes"... Bah! You are troublemakers who have endangered all of us here with your antics. You should have left the fight to the guard! The last thing my town needs is a bunch if filthy vagrants to attract more trouble!
At this point, Ameiko rushes forward, a dripping mop in her hands, and he bases the man upside his head, yelling in the same unknown language. The man clearly appears to cower, blushes, and then runs out of the tavern.
Ameiko sighs and says almost to herself...
father... What have you done?