"Seems like we should check it out. Probably some kind of vandalism the goblins got up to."
Father Zantus says "Balor I assume you can lead these intrepid adventurers to the vault, I've priestly duties to go about'
Sherrif hemlock nods, and looks up and sees the woman standing there and watching 'Is that a friend of yours?'
"I don't recognize her." Tamm says to the others.
He steps forward to the stranger and says "Hello there, are you in need of some help? Father Zantus just went inside, but we can fetch him for you if you need some assistance."
"Oh, I do not believe that I am the one in need of help." Zeldana answered as she crossed her arms behind her back and slowly made her way up the path, a soft clink from her jewelry every step. She stopped a respectable distance from the group before her duel colored eyes shifted to look at the Sheriff. "Good morning Sheriff Hemlock. I am glad to see the day finds you well." She said before she returned her focus to the group. During her small aside to the Sheriff, Zeldana had pulled a card from her deck and was toying with it in her fingers before giving it a glace. A small smile tugged at her lips before she returned the card to its proper place.
"Introductions, I believe, is where to properly start. I am Zeldana Emraeal Luminita Dardlara Anca Nordlara Amaria." She gave a good chuckle at her long name, she believe her parents thought it clever but it was a mouthful for any she met that where not use to the varisian or elven naming style. "But many just refer to me as Zel, or Zeldana. I've called Sandpoint my home for the past several years, I thank you for what you did at the festival. I was stuck minding the shop while my parents ran a booth in the area of it. I would likely have been left alone in this world if it wasn't for you all." Zeldana went on to explain. "But thanking you, tis not why I am here no."
"I stated before, that I was not the one in need of help. I am not... but your group is." She calmly stated. "You have been touched by fate, and I do not believe you even know it." Zeldana said with a smile. "I am here, because fate pulled me here. Because fate lead me to you. One does not spit in the face of fate, so here I am heros. At your service."
Loxley had cursed her misfortune as she approached the town of Sandpoint. Her argument with the first caravan leader had delayed her arrival by a whole day. She had came all this way to see the new church's dedication and missed it. Her mood quickly changed once she actually reached town and saw the destruction wrought by the previous evening's attack. ”What happened?” She wondered quietly as she slowed her pace. Bodies, both humanoid and goblin, laid covered with various sheets, tarps and articles as they awaited proper care or disposal.
"I could just as easily be under one of those myself if I had been here."
She send under her breath and swallowed a lump in her throat.
"Of course, I could have also prevented some of these losses too, if I had been."
She added with a frown.
Feeling a little guilty for her trail of thought Loxley tried not to get in the way of the locals as they went about picking up the pieces of their lives.
"Perhaps after I find the inn the other caravan had told me of, I can find where the wounded have been gathered and find some way to help." She thought to herself as she picked up her pace again and walked down the street towards 'The Rusty Dragon'.
"That is certainly a mouthful of names....." Tamm thinks to himself as the woman introduces herself.
Sherrif Hemlock nods at Zeldana 'Good morning mam.'
"Well, I'm sure we're glad you're here Zel, but what are you here to help us with?" Tamm asks the newcomer..
Loxley gives the interior of the inn a quick glance before making her way over to an empty table. Nodding politely at the halfling she sets her pack in one of the empty chair, careful of the bow strapped to it. Seating herself, she waits patiently for the Tian women to come over. She smiles up at her when he does.
“Hello. I hope I haven’t come at a bad time. Looks like you had some trouble, what, last night if I judge the damage.” She says grimly then adds. ”I was looking for a room and meals, till at least until the morning. I have a few coins, but I do have some minor healing abilities. If you can tell me were the injured have been taken I would like to try to help if I can.”
"Don't know yet." Zeldana said with a grin. "Though I'm sure it will be through my magic."" She answered as she gave a simple shrug. "So while I know some of your names I am not sure who is who, might I find out now?" She asked.
The short haired blonde smiles, glad to see that spirits still seem to be high, despite the tragedy.
”I’m glad to hear that people seem to be pulling together in such a time. Praise the gods for good samaritans.” At the mention of food Loxley’s stomach growls and the young women looks embarrassed. With a nervous gesture with her hair, she smiles awkwardly and chuckles. ”The sausage sounds good and eggs are always a welcome change to trail rations. Though if you have any personal recommendations I’d be willing to try them.”
Loxley shakes her head as she picks up the first cup of coffee the hostess poured. ”That should be more then enough, thank you, um, Miss…?” Unsure how to address the women.
"Well Zel, my name is Sazzat Tamm. Lately of Riddleport, but traveling now and seeing the coast." Tamm says offering to shake the lady's hand.
Zeldana took Tamm's hand and shook it with a smile. "Well met my friend." She said cheerfully. Though when questioned about her talents Zeldana gracefully draws the deck of cards from their resting place and begins doing small tricks with them. "I am what is known as a cartomancer dear Yeda. But I was trained and have a natural talent for harrowing. A skill which all Varisans know of but don't have. I read fortunes. I see what fate plans... or well... some of the time. It even seems that portents favors me greatly. For to me past, present,and future can be revealed. Even if I may not understand it at the time it is shown to me." Zeldana explained with a flush of her cards, having them all end up in her hand as a jice neat pile.
"Fate pulled me to you, the cards gave a a glimpse of greatness but anything beyond that... I am sorry to say is out of my akill level."
"Well we're glad of any help you can provide. We're here this morning to investigate some vandalism the goblins seemed to have committed during the recent troubles." Tamm tells the fortune teller.
"To the crypt!" Tamm responds, following along behind Yeda.
You guys make your way to the vault, which is a 10x10 foot structure close to the wall. Sherrif says "Here it is, feel free to have a look around"
As you look around the ground is churned with tracks, and with a dc 13 perception you can ascertain the following
You can also go into the Crypt
"Hmmm .... don't see anything here. Let's try the crypt."
Tamm enters the crypt and is attacked by animated skeletons!
"Gahhhh!!!!" he cries out.
Tamm staggers back out of the crypt, bleeding profusely from several wounds!
Sazzat is at -6.
But he stabilizes.
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Hmm, there are a lot of goblin footprints here, but also some from a normal-sized creature. But what...
She doesn't figure out much more before she hears Tamm scream in pain. She rushes into the crypt, with greatsword drawn, and sees Tamm stagger out in the opposite direction.
She quickly sees the skeletons and prepares to attack the closest one.
"Yes... I see what you mean... question is, where they here with or after the goblins?" Zeldana asked before she heard Tamm's cry.
"The dead walk!!" Zeldana shouts in shock.
He had been quiet a long while listening to the newcomer...as such he didnt move to look at the footprints and study them until it was too late.
"There are goblins and something larger..they climbed the....Oh no."
He followed after Yeda and the pretty yet strange new person his eyes widening when he sees Sazzat down.
First up is Zeldana.
Zeldana swiftly drew a card from her deck, the Paladin, as she recited an incantation. The armor on the paladin vanished before appearing upon her in a soft blue color then vanishing.
If Corrin's spell goes off on initiative 19, then Tamm will heal up to 3hp. On his turn, he will use a standard action for full defense (AC20) and a move action to stand up.
"Aaargh!!!!" he cries out as Corrin's magic washes over him.
"Lookout!!! he cries as he waves his sword back and forth to distrat the undead as he gets his feet under him.
Even though Yeda's greatsword does a good deal less damage, she still olbliterates the skeleton, whose friend responds with two claw attacks
Top of the round
"Yes, we've seen them." Zeldana said with a nervous sigh. She didn't like the undead, they always unnerved her, not to mention her magic hardly ever worked on them.
Moving up a bit Zeldana, quarterstaff in hand, brought a sweeping blow around to try and hit one of the skeletons.
Joining Zeldana in her attempts to smash skeletons he darts forward bringing his club down hard.
Tamm again swings his sword wildly to block any attacks (Full Defense - AC20)
and moves to flank the skeleton (probably drawing an Attack of Opportunity)
Loxley smiled as Ameiko left her to her coffee. She sips at it, letting it’s warm ease through her.
She sets the cup down, sighing as she sets her elbows on the table and rests her chin on her hands.
”Guess I need to find a little work around here before I can afford to move on.” She thinks to herself with a frown.
Yeda cuts down one skeleton, and then quickly cuts down the other.
Sherrif Hemlock runs up (he was investigating on the other side of the building) and says "What in tarnation was that? Where did they come from?
"Good thing you were here Yeda, those things took me by surprise!"
Tamm looks around in the crypt.
A search of the crypt yields only two things of interest
1. You see a discarded Robe of Bones lying in the corner with 0 charges left
2. Tobyn's sarcophagus is open and his remains are stolen
Zeldana helped Tamm up so that he could go look around however she did look to Yeda some what questionably. "They almost showed Tamm his insides... I wouldn't say we had much of a handle on it." She commented. "Though the danger has passed for the monent so... job done."
Then she joined Tamm in looking around. A worried look passed over her face as she pointed to Tobyn's sarcophagus. "His bones are missing."
"Hate to be a bother, but does anyone have any more healing magic? Those skeletons really did a number on me." Tamm says with blood leaking down his side.
"That robe might be worth something in a big city. There's weird people that collect all manner of stuff."
Suddenly a thought occurs to Tamm: "Hey, the priest wasn't one of those two that Yeda just splintered over there by the door?"
"Its not much.. but here eat the two berries I have left. They should help!"
Corrin began pulling two goodberries from his belt pouch and handing them to Sazzat.
Club in hand he pokes at the fallen skeleton bones just in case they might move again before focusing on the crypt, then the tracks about the crypt.
"What would goblins be doing with bones? What are these larger footprints here? Whom do they belong to? So many questions remain."
He said glumly.
Upon investigation it becomes obvious that there were 2 patches on the robe of bones, and both were used for the skeletons. Balor says with a concerned "Wait, the bones are missing?"
"It looks like the goblins, and maybe someone else, stole this Father Tobyn's body?"
"How long ago did he die? Is there any reason the goblins would have a grudge against him?"
"This might have been random, but then again, it might not be."
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|
Yeda responds incredulously to Zaldana.
Hey! We made sure he didn't die! We're only just starting out. We'll get better and farther from death even as we accomplish more daring deeds! I mean, I wouldn't normally assume that, but you seemed pretty sure about our fates, so it seems like there is some adventuring in store for our lot.
She smiles weakly as she hefts her greatsword over her shoulder. As the group discusses the robbed grave, Yeda ponders the possible implications.
Someone wants to make use of the body. It would be preferable if it were simply goblins, but now I'm concerned some sorcerer or wizard is up to foul play with it. Wouldn't the body of an accomplished priest or cleric provide a more valuable vessel for undead construction? I'm not so well-versed in these things...
She looks around at the group, hoping somebody can disprove her vague fears about necromancy.
Tamm eats the two berries.
"Thanks Corrin. Those skeletons had some nasty claws."
Tamm asks the sheriff: "Well, what do you want to do about these developments? There don't seem to be any more clues about what happened to Father Tobyn's remains."
"You do realize that fate is never easy to read, and that touched by fate might not be a good thing?" Zeldana asked with a small smile upon her face. "After all, tis fate who chooses when one dies."
Looking to Tamm the half-elf answers "I believe it was five years ago."