After finishing your last-minute shopping, you set out on the road to Koriszegy Crypt. At last, four days later, you find yourself before the looming stone structure, standing before an open portcullis and main gate. Even as you trudge through yet another thunderstorm, the dark clouds set an eerie backdrop for the Crypt, with streaking bolts of lightning defining an ominous silhouette before you.
You walk inside, finding an entrance corridor that runs straight north for a good distance before you come to a small chamber.
The chamber has closed doors on the north, east, and west sides (the south side is where you came in from the corridor). In the center of the chamber is a pillar on which is mounted a painting of a man in plain gray robes. The man's hands are extended as though he were holding something, and there is an impression in the surface of the painting, about an inch wide and a few feet long, which lines up with his hands.
Beneath the painting is an inscription which reads, "I hold in my hands the gift of life. Come to me and I will awaken that which is dead in you."
"Hmm...It seems obvious what we're supposed to do. I'm not sure I trust whoever built this place, though. Let's tread carefully."
Mirrel begins to carefully examine the floor, slowly moving towards the pillar as he scans for traps, secret compartments or anything out of the ordinary.
Halsere uses 10 minutes with the Identify ritual and uses the pearl on working out the staff of life.
Pietro also scans the room for any tricks.
Thyra will draw her shield and battleaxe, standing at the ready for any monsters.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Spidre carries both blades before him, ready to strike down the painting should it make any wrong moves. Spidre is vary wary of paintings. Especially paintings that want his stuff.
Inspecting the chamber, you find no signs of suspicious mechanisms or tripwires or any such thing. You do, however, find that the three simple wooden doors are sealed behind invisible barriers, most likely magical force. You would guess that the staff is involved in removing those magical barriers.
Halsere places the staff of life in the statues hands.
When Halsere places the Staff of Life in the impression, the staff glows for a moment before popping back out into Halsere's hands. A magical voice emanates from the painting:
"The path of hope lies before you. Stray from the path, and you will be punished. Choose now which way you will go."
"Eenie, meenie, money, mo..."
"North it is."
Thyra, hesitant to follow this animate's demands will step toward the north door.
"Should I lead us?"
Right you are Thyra - we'll be behind you.
Spidre nods, but keeps his mask and swords pointed at the untrustworthy painting.
Thyra will proceed forward cautiously, axe and shield at the ready into the darkness of the North Door.
Moving through the north door, you find another chamber very similar to the first, in that it has doors at the other three cardinal directions (that is, you entered from the south, and there are additional doors north, east, and west). This time, however, there is no pillar in the center.
The northern door of this new chamber looks entirely ordinary, but the east and west doors have no handle or hinges; they look like maybe they open by sliding sideways into the walls, but they are plain sheets of metal with nothing to grab. The western door has a red circle painted on its center, and a fine red mist can be seen seeping out through the miniscule space beneath the door. The eastern door is much the same, but with blue instead of red.
Blue is always better than red. Lets see to the eastern door but knowing our luck it will be an ice critter and not a fire one
Spidre's mask tilts up and down towards Halsere slowly, then points down at the floor. He heaves a sigh and remains staring at the floor, swords pointed down.
"No, we must not stray from tha path. Stick ta tha North door."
Ohhh - good point.
Mirrel nods in agreement with Thyra.
"Let's be wary in case something lurks behind those other two though. They seem like some kind of trap to me. They could well trigger once we open the north door."
Mirrel will remain in the southern part of the room as Thyra investigates the north, keeping an eye on the strange, colored doors.
Going through the north door, you enter a hallway with a few turns to it, every so often containing a door to one side or the other. The first couple of room are plain and empty, just bare stone, seemingly unused. When you open your third door, however, you see a surprised-looking, burly group of humanoid creatures, the foremost of which has his hand extended as though interrupted while reaching for the door.
The creatures yell, "Intruders!" and attack!
Mirrel and Pietro are the first to react!
These are bugbears, technically goblinoid creatures. They are often used as hired enforcers or guards by evil masters because they typically have no qualms with killing or even torturing those who cross them. They're strong, hardy, vicious, and have darkvision (if that matters).
Hoping to clear out the lead bugbear, Pietro fires a bolt of divine energy.
Pietro fires off a spell, but misses!
Mirrel begins his discordant tune, casting bane on the three bugbears in chainmail.
Two of the creatures resist Mirrel's spell, but one in the middle rank is affected!
The creature in the back with the lighter armor maneuvers to the side for a better shot then fires a bolt of energy at Thyra!
,
It's a miss!
The lead creature growls, and reaches for the heavily-armored dwarf!
He grabs Thyra and pulls her into the room, depositing her behind him, right between the other two! One of them then tries to throw her to the ground!
Thyra resists!
The other pulls out his cudgel and takes a swing!
,
Thanks to her new gear, Thyra manages to deflect it!
Spidre moves into the gap, striking twice at the bugbear in the doorway.
,
,
His swords fly fast and true, exactly as the skilled fighter knew they would.
"Hah bugbear scum, I got ya right were I want ya"
Halsere fires off a firebolt at one of the bugbears in the room when its his action as Spidre and Thyra would have likely have dropped their target.
for
Mirrel taunts the bugbear in scale armor as he continues his grating chords. "You can hide behind these others all you like. All cowards really achieve is to watch everyone else fall first."
DC 15 Wis save or take psychic damage.
Spidre and Thyra wound the lead bugbear, and Halsere's spell finishes it off!
Mirrel maintains his first spell and casts another!
The less-armored bugbear winces, then points an accusing finger at Mirrel, who is suddenly engulfed in flames!
Mirrel reacts quickly, shielding his face from the worst of it, but still gets a bit singed!
The enemy caster suffers a mild skin irritation from Pietro's spell!
The caster puts a hex on Thyra!
His hand then begins to crackle with energy as he prepares another spell!
One of his companions tries to knock Thyra to the ground again!
Thyra hits the ground!
Immediately, a cudgel and a bolt of energy come down against her!
,
,
The cudgel comes down hard, but the spell manages to miss from two feet away!
Mirrel casts dissonant whispers at the rear bugbear whilst continuing to concentrate on bane.
Pietro throws a quick healing spell at Thyra, and tries to blast the warlock again.
"Blasted monsters! Thanks Pietro, Njord and Torm fighting togetha'!"
Thyra will stand up from prone and attack the one that cursed her using her Inspiration.
13 + 7 = 20
In a flurry of spells and steel, the enemy spellcaster falls!
Halsere chooses another bugbear and attempts to hit it with a firebolt.
for
Spidre moves in next to Thyra and begins swinging his swords at his next victim.
,
,
-Posted with Wayfinder
Spidre nicks one of the remaining bugbears!
The bugbears again try for their knockdown combo against Thyra!
,
They seem rattled by their dwindling chances of victory!
The bugbears are defeated! Need a rest? Moving on? Their gear is nothing to be excited about.
Thyra will attempt to stabilize one, maybe they can tell us what they were doing in here.
"Wake up, monster!"
Spidre notes what Thyra is probably trying to do, then makes the attempt himself.
You manage to stabilize and awaken one of the fallen bugbears. Eyes only half-open, he looks at you and scowls.
Spidre keeps his sword to the creature's throat, but waits for the others to do any talking.
Thyra will look to Mirrel, Halsere or Pietro, motioning for them to interrogate the bugbear.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Mirrel steps forward to address the bugbear.
"Here's how things stand. You've picked a side and unfortunately for you, you've picked the losing one. Your best hope now is to tell us all you can about the layout of this place and its guards. If we like your answers" he pauses to indicate Halsere with a casual wave, "and my companion has magical means of knowing if you're lying. Then we'll let you go."
"Your other choice is to rely on the mercy of my masked friend here. And I can tell you he's as gentle as he looks."
(+9/+6) = +14/+11
(+9/+6) = +18/+15
With a look on his face not unlike resignation, the bugbear says, "You'll never get out. This whole level is a puzzle, and we ain't even allowed to know how to get through to below. I hear tell there's even a maze down below, plus a whole level of monsters and some of the vampire's workers. I didn't see any of it because we were brought in blindfolded for security reasons, but I'm pretty sure we're something like three or four levels up from where the secret entrance is. Good luck gettin' there." The bugbear scoffs, as though already assuming you're on borrowed time.
"We aren't gonna kill ya, gather yer stuff and follow the South doors out of here. No lefts er rights, just South."
Thyra will help the bugbear up and dust him off a bit.