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With the gold provided, and the goods given out, High Mother Dremagne wishes you luck in getting to the bottom of the undead mystery, no matter how deep it leads you in the Emerald Spire. You rest the night at the Red Shield Tavern, and set out the next day. Heading Northwest, you eventually find a game trail that continues roughly to where the Emerald Spire is.
Ahead, you see a clearing with what looks to be some large animal's den, its opening facing north.
What do you do as you approach?
Dorin frowns, staring in to the clearing. He hefts his axe and grips it tightly, before walking cautiously in to the center of the clearing, ready for anything.
Kaley skirts around the edge of the clearing and pauses, examining the area with senses greater than her own.
Coglen draws his blade, preparing for an assault.
The night of resting having done wonders for his nerves and his repertoire of spells, Petros trudged along behind the rest of the group, shifting position when the rest of the group did so that he was walking behind Coglen.
Stooping, Petros looked from the ground to the animal den, trying to find tracks or some other kind of clue to guess what might be using it.
Qot moves, trying to create a circle with his companions and keeping a certain distance from the entrance of the den.
Careful, guys... It might be just a regular beast. - says Qot, almost inaudibly, pointing the arrow and ready to shoot.
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As Dorin steps towards the den, shuffling can be heard within, followed shortly after by a pained moan, and then another. Two figures stumble out of the cave, their flesh sallow and pale, rags covering their bodies and stained with what looks to be fresh blood. Eyes white with cataracts turn in their sockets to lock on the shortest amongst the interlopers...
Dorin holds up his hand, signalling to stop moving, as he hears the groans, mixed with the tearing of flesh. 'Well that has to be...'
'Aye, Zombies, just as we do be expecting. Hiding from the sun no doubt. I wonder what they do be eating...' He shook his head and readied himself for combat
Tracing his fingers along the tops of the blades of grass, Petros jerked his head up at the sound of the groans.
"Who the hel-" he stopped short as a pair of zombies came shambling out of the den.
Oh" Scrambling to his feet, Petros gulped and wished he'd remembered to put his mask on beforehand.
Qot closed his fists and prepared to advance towards the undead creatures. He had no idea if they were exactly the monsters they were told about and could only assume they were, restricted to the previous knowledge shared by his companions.
Kaley blinks in surprise at the appearance of the undead and quickly moves her hand to the hilt of her sword.
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Not caring for what creatures have come up from the den, Qot runs in and slashes the creature across the chest with his otherworldly claws, tearing through its necrotic flesh!
Moaning in response, the creature raises up its fists...
But its attempt to slam them against Qot fail as he steps to the side with preternatural foresight!
Next, Dorin trots up to aid Qot. He swings his dwarven waraxe at the moaning abomination, catching it at the neck, and sending its head flying away, and the creature crumples to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut.
A lone creature stands, its face expressionless as Kaley steps into action...
Kaley grimaces and charges the remaining undead, drawing her sword and swinging viciously toward the zombie's fragile spine.
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Charging forth, Kaley nearly stumbles, but her greatsword still catches the zombie in the midsection, nearly cleaving it in half. The damage to its body is catastrophic, and its top half bends backwards, the spine breaking from the unsteady load. The legs soon collapse afterwards, and the clearing is silent save for the breathing of the group, and the flies descending on the corpses and den.
Peering inside the den, you see several more humanoid corpses, their bodies in a similar condition to the zombies, piled atop the body of a black bear.
Whistling appreciatively, Petros made his way over to the den, shaking his head in mock disbelief. It seemed his comrades were far more dangerous than he had assumed. "I don't know where that came from, but make sure to bring plenty more in case we get attacked again".
"There are tracks here...going...I think that way?"
Covering his mouth with a sleeve to prevent the smell from gagging him Petros began to root through the cave.
"There's a bunch of hunting equipment in here, which I think should be re-purposed...by us"
Dorin crouches down and rips off the shirt the zombie had been wearing, using the cleanest edge he could find to wipe off his blade, before he shoulders it and strolls down in to the cave. He crouches down beside the bear first and began to examine it.
"About 10 hours dead. Meat has probably begun to spoil but its hide might be salvageable, if one of you do have any ability with skinning animals?"
He returned to the surface after collecting the things Petros had found during his search. He put them in a small pile on the ground. "Well... It is a start. We are now better equipped so that do be something!"
"Hold on, just a moment."
Kaley peers into the cave and glances at the objects they have collected.
Qot helps as he can to look at the bodies inside the cave. His expression is a little said, and he says a short prayer to Erastil, pleading for him to receive them with comfort. After helping collect whatever is useful, he speaks.
If no one objects, I'd like to keep the arrows for my bow. - he starts - ... And maybe it'd be a good idea to burn these bodies, including the bear's.
He points at the torch, handing it to whoever is more prepared than him at it, assuming his companions agree. Finally, he steps outside.
I agree, Petros. That's probably the way we should follow, then. - he completes with a serene voice.
vs DC 13
vs DC 10/15
vs DC 15
vs DC 10
"Wait a moment. This body here is much older. It has a medallion or something." Coglen reaches down to retrieve the medallion, takes one look at it, and holds it for the others to see. The Crowned Skull is apparent despite the item's age.
Outside the cave, Coglen agrees with Petros's assessment of the direction. "I see a green glint in that direction, that must be the way to the spire where they congregate."
Dorin frowns, staring long and hard at the Medallion, burning it in to his minds eye. "That do be an interesting sigil. Do any of you recognize it? I can't say I do, not off the top o my head."
Grabbing the torch from Qot with a nod of thanks, Petros turned to appraise the medallion Coglen pointed out. "Well, aren't I embarassed for not noticing that"
Shrugging at Dorin, Petros said "I don't know much about family crests from MY country let alone another"
Making a noise like he'd forgotten something, Petros dug through his own belongings for his waterproof bag. From the smaller bag he extracted a tindertwig and set to work lighting the torch. With the torch lit, Petros shook the tindertwig until it was out and then began to hold the flame against the older rags.
Once he was certain things would burn without his supervision he stepped away, jaw set and grim-faced.
"May Pharasma be gentle with her judgment" he whispered
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With the valuables gathered and the bodies burned, the group heads up the trail where they soon arrive at a large clearing of green grasses for a few hundred meters, closer to the center, the terrain becomes rough and dead, full of craggy rocks and loose gravel. From this scar in the earth erupts an emerald monolith, its faceted surface shining in the sunlight of the midday.
Amidst the crags, you see what looks like it could be a path leading to an opening in the Emerald Spire's side.
Dorin studied the path leading towards the Spire, frowning slightly. Something didn't feel right. There had been tracks leading towards this area, meaning that there must be more of the Undead around, yet there didn't appear to be any visible guards. He hefted his axe and sighed, before taking a step forward.
"It do be likely we be walking in to a trap here, but we must do it. We take the path and keep our eyes peeled for trouble, aye?"
He began to move slowly along the path, keeping his eyes open for any possible threats.
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Following the tracks, you find their source, it appears almost as if they had just popped into existence in the field, and then set off randomly to where you had found them. Perhaps some magic conjured them all to the surface from the unseen depths of the spire.
Near the most obvious entrance, you see a goblin, apparently playing with a creature that looks like a dog with a rat-like tail and a mangy coat.
In your wanderings around the fringe however, you spy what looks to be a secret entrance, covered in a painted canvas stretched over a wood frame.
Dorin points towards the secret entrance and turns to look at the rest of the group, raising an eyebrow questioningly. If this was a second way in to the Spire, it might be better than going past the Goblin. Or it could be a sneaky Goblin trap, where by people move up to the main entrance and Goblin warbands spread out after them to cut off retreat. He was not sure, but they needed to find out.
Qot raises an eyebrow.
While I like the chance of finding another way and avoid the conflict - or maybe alerting, it's sounding a lot like some sort of trap.
He pointed silently to the goblin and the strange rat-dog near him.
I could optionally try to take the goblin from afar, and get some arrows on the animal too.
"I'll leave the tactics up to the rest of you. I'm not sure who they'd be trying to trap, all the way out here in the forest. But I guess it seems sort of obvious for a door they don't want people to find..."
Kaley starts to trail off, then stops with a jolt.
"Wait! What am I thinking? I can prepare an extract that can tell me with certainty whether or not this door was intended to be found. It can also show if there's a third door we haven't seen yet. Hold on, it will only take me a minute."
If no one objects, Kaley sits down out of sight of the Spire and pulls her alchemy crafting kit, artisan's tools, and formula book out of her backpack. She begins to hurridly mix together a few powders and liquids.
Dorin puts his shoulder up against the cliff, keeping his eyes open for trouble coming down the track, as Kaley works her magic. "Aye, that do be good thinking lass!"
Running the fingers of his left hand over his signet ring, Petros followed behind his comrades thoughts elsewhere for the most part.
"I thought goblins were supposed to be even dumber than us Ulfen..." Petros trailed off as he contemplated one of the small vials that contained the explosive substance he used in combat.
"You guys ever wonder why so many towns are made near giant spires or towers or underground mazes or monster lairs? I mean, where I'm from, we have no choice because EVERYWHERE is right beside a monster lair, but you southerners..."
"It do be a case of resources. People in the old days crowded around a local water source, somewhere with water and wood is a bonus. Somewhere with water, wood and the potential for ore," he gestured to the lands rising around them, "well best believe that that area do be somewhere worth fighting for." He nodded, glancing up at the Goblin from behind the wall of the rise.
"Before we had the ability to travel long distances, everything did need to be within a walking distance, for it to be any use. It do make sense. Though that Tower do not be friendly looking, by my aged grandmother it don't!"
Well... Time to go then, my friends. Let's try this secret door.
Qot points, but follows in the same marching order (he's around the middle).
"Let's head in the secret door, that is my vote. Goblins might raise alarm the other way."
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The door opens to the interior of the tower, its inside seems to be pitch black a few feet in, but a few of you can see the what the hall looks like without light.
The secret door leads to a tunnel shored up with rough timbers through a collapsed mound of green glass, leading to a hall. This curving hall has been badly damaged, but there are intact doors to the north, east and south, as well as a large double door leading west to the core of the tower.
"I can't see in the dark" Coglen whispers to Dorin.