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As the combat winds to its conclusion, Marius calls the gore spattered and singed Curze to heal and takes a moment to look over the enraged Tiger for wounds as his allies fiddle with chains and puzzles. Taking out his wand and a brush, he wipes off the worst of the gore before finding the scars from the creature's bolts and spider bites. Soothing then with healig light, he pats his companion as he gets to his feet.
"Well done friend, and now back on to the War." he says softly before turning to the prisoners with an easy smile. "Any of you injured or need food, water? The way behind os clear and your friends are safe from the cultist's work above." he reassures as he moves to help.
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"That door interests me," Mūn points to the door almost immediately in front of the party, "but I'm concerned about what might be out here." He motions his arm in a wide sweep acknowledging the large area with small tombs.
"Let's make sure there's nothing to endanger us here, first." He motions Selûne to begin searching due east, while he heads up to explore what may be some interesting carvings.
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Reese is confident no magical auras lie within the immediate vicinity as she follows the Selune and Mun sweep the creepy courtyard. Satisfied with their checks, they indicate to Marius to open the door to the large crypt.
The doors opens to reveal a gothic style interior, one that is somewhat strikingly beautiful yet creepy at the same time. Ornate carvings decorate the walls inside the Ismacco crypt, creating several stylized burial niches. Tall, marbled pillars stretch to the 20-foot-high ceiling, creating three alcoves that hold massive oak sarcophagi. At the rear of the chamber, stairs ascend into a basilica-like dome. A musty smell permeates the chamber, and several dozen torches burn brightly in wall sconces throughout the crypt.
In the northwest-most alcove, two Cassomirite slaves are bound inside a small cage. Several members of the Cult of Nature’s Cataclysm have set up a guard post near a shattered burial niche in the northeast corner of the room that hides a set of rough-hewn stairs descending into darkness. They seem to be playing poker. A grand altar rests in the open basilica in the northernmost portion of the room; stairs nearby lead up to a second level of burial niches. An impressive two-story wall mural in the basilica depicts a stern figure glaring down on the sepulchre.
The guards are taken by surprise, and not in the nice way. They prepare themselves for what is assumingly going to be a fight but are somewhat slow to react as they throw down their playing cards. One of the guards shout instructions and looks a bit more formidable than the rest.
Thugs
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Haliban, Selune, and Mun decide to scope the battle to best strategize their next move, but this allows time for the thugs to react. As the green bandana thug comes running towards Reese, Harry fires from the hip and the bullet just barely grazes his head, leaving a flesh wound. But distracted by the shot, it leaves Reese with just a moment to take advantage of, as the thug does around to corner, to strike with his weapon, knocking him off his feet. He knocks the concrete with a loud thud, and does not recover.
However, this does not stop the other thugs from engaging with Reese. Reese does her best to dodge every blow, however one Thug is able to read her movements and gives a direct blow to the head.
~~~
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Mun calls on Ashava to look on he and Selûne with favor as they enter this fight, the two becoming inseparable in his mind as the spell's magic washes over them. He then simply point to the door, his body language sending the clear signal for Selûne to attack whatever she finds.
Calling upon the strength and wisdom of a deity, you gain a +1 luck bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls for every three caster levels you have (at least +1, maximum +3). The bonus doesn't apply to spell damage.
Selûne roars as she feels Ashava's energy wash over her, sharing in the fervor of the divine magic along with Reese's inspiring song.
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As the divine favors of Ashava fall upon the might bear, Selune enters into a rage like stance and forces herself upon the assailants. Her bite is strong, and nearly takes down one of the mite.
Haliban comes out from around the corner to fire a couple arrows into the battle. Both arrows find themselves meeting an thug each. One strikes right into the heart of the thug that Selune was attacking, and immediately kills the thug.
~~~
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Breaking into a grin and a new song, Reese shatters another thug's skull with his silver hammer.
"Do not go meekly into that hard fight,
Your rage should burn and rave, and dragons slay;
Rage, rage with glorious and righteous might."
Standard Attack (black)
Free 5-ft. step into black's space if he goes down
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The two remaining cultist do not relent, and the use their brute force to attempt to bring down the Pathfinders in their path. Unfortunately, fear of defeat clouds their thoughts, and their attempts to hold back the line are futile. The elite thug strains himself too much and falls short of breath, falling into an unconscious state.
The thugs once more have only mundane weapons that may not be an interest to you, with exception of the elite thug who carries a +1 heavy flail.
With the immediate threat removed, you are able to take your time to regain your breathe. The two captives in the cages in the back of the crypt yell with whatever might they can muster in their weakened state for your help after witnessing the incredible takedown.
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Harry waste no time seeing to the captives, and produces a key that easily unlocks the cages to set the prisoners free. They are extremely thankful and express their gratitude through their words. "Oh thank you so much! We thought we were going to die."
Mun and Selune moves around the premises and attempts to see what it holds. they discovers the stairs leading towards the top leads into a small dome shaped room. In it, it houses a single sarcophagus with no special markings.
On the other side, the stairs heading downwards leads towards some burial niches and complete darkness. As far as they can tell, the whole room is empty, and has an eerie quietness to it. Every small sound, be it a whisper or footsteps reverberates within the walls of this chamber.
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Confidently the pathfinders open the door revealing a somewhat brightly lit chamber. A purple glow washes over this cold chamber, creating an otherworldly sheen. A large desk adorns the south wall; behind its oaken bulk hangs a large map of Cassomir. Straw-lined cages line the chamber’s east and west walls. In the center of the room, resting on a small pedestal, a black rock absorbs the chamber’s bright torch light.
The cages hold various mites and humans in a sickly state, almost on a brink of death, but clearly alive for the moment. At the end of the room, behind a desk, sits a grotesque and disfigured humanoid who immediately takes notice of your presence. He stops his activity and stands from his seat as the door opens yelling. "Ibnu Bida!!"
Kill them!!
Two skeletons figures standing around his desk immediately eye themselves towards the door, raising up their broken scimitars.
the Skeletons immediately move in and crowd the door.
From behind the safety of his desk, the ghoulish man yells with a creepy voice to Reese and attempts to shake him to his core.
"This place shall be your deathbed!"
~~~
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Overcrowded in such a tight space, Harry finds himself unable to get an accurate shot in there and it results in him shouting frustrations.
Being well versed in the lore of undeads, Reese is able to recall from his readings a few interesting facts about skeletons, and ghouls. Skeletons are known to be prone to blunt weaponry, and most people find it difficult to strike a nerve with sharp weapons. They are also known to be immune to the effects of cold and of that in general that can affect the living, like diseases and what not. The ghoul on the other hand, have none of these resistances, but they are known to be more resilient against positive energy.
Knowing what he knows, Reese attempts to obliterate the skeleton in front of him with a hard swing. Unforunately, the skeleton finds the rhythm of his swing as is able to react in a timely manner to dodge the brunt of the blow.
~~~
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Mun looks down the hall across the shoulders of his companions. It looks like this battle is Reese's to handle; no way any of us can get past!
He tries to do what he can, though, and calls on Ashava to bless everyone.
Bless fills your allies with courage. Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects.
Bless counters and dispels bane.
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The room fills momentarily with divination as Mun seeks the blessings of Ashava to guide a hand in the battle against the undead.
From the many shots Haliban throws forth, the first one whizzes through the pathfinders in a small gap between them to miraculously hit the skeleton in the hip bone. A critical joint was displaced, causing the skeleton to lose balance, fall and break into many pieces.
The bear rushes past Harry and Reese, taking the lead spot and immediately crunching down on a dry, dusty clavicle.
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A single bite is all it takes to break apart the skeleton as the bear brings down a great fury upon the undead being it her way.
From afar, the ghoul curses, but looks unmoved and unconcerned that his small skeleton army was taken out so quickly. Before they could even prove themselves to him.
He continues spitting out verbal nonsense as he comes slightly forward. Before you know it, he attempts to cast a spell on the Selune, attempting to confuse her.
~~~
Selune feels the powerful magic wash over, resisting as the ghoul tries to confuse her actions.