Vanea had some troubles sleeping alone in a new bed.
Of course, she had troubles sleeping alone in an old bed too.
In fact, she had troubles sleeping, and was quite vocal about it, so to speak. Numerous times.
Whatever.
The following morning, she goes downstairs for a breakfast, wearing only a big smile.
I'm hungry!How are you? Did you enjoyed the night?
Seeing your faces, she realises something is wrong
Oops. I forgot to be decent, I guess. I'll be back.
She goes back to her room, and then comes back again, wearing as few clothes as decency requires, and sits at the table.
Shaedeen raises an eyebrow when Ratimir mentions that the goblin tribes have united then silently curses herself for falling for the Varisian's subtle form of mind control. Her second eyebrow elevates when Vanea shows up for breakfast in the buff. When the shameless bard heads back to her room to get decent, Shaedeen confesses to the others, "I'm so glad Ameiko gave each of us our own room; I'd be petrified to be paired off with her!"
When Vanea returns and the gang's ready to make plans for the day, Shaedeen giggles and asks, "When we interrogate the goblin will we have to speak in rhyme? I've got a couple: Tell us the truth or we'll knock out a tooth! Tell us who's your boss or we'll feed you to a hoss!"
Haelvor walks to his room, deep in thought and somewhat oblivious to the comments from the other patrons as he passes, almost brushing off the man who approaches to shake his hand. Perhaps this isn't the right thing? Maybe I should just move on, find somewhere else, try again? . Not really tired, but very much not seeking company, he lies on his back, watching moonbeams catch the dust swirling in the room.
At the back of his mind, and the edge of his vision, the sparks and motes of flame, briefly exhausted by the day's exertions, begin to renew and restrengthen, to tug once more at his psyche. You? A hero? An adventurer? You're only fooling yourself!
Better to be a hero than a nobody, he thinks.
But some people are just meant to be nobodies, they answer.
Having slept poorly, Haelvor emerges to find the others at breakfast. He nods in what he thinks is a polite way, and sits down quietly to eat. He's surprised at how hungry he is. Again, the energy consumed the previous day took more out of him than he expected.
When the Varisian girl asks him about his collision with Ameiko, he responds, quietly: "Yes, yes. She told me he was safe. I think I was just a little panicked. Master Quink is the only person I know here. I was probably as concerned for my own future in town as for his safety, being honest. But he's fine. The drama was unwarranted."
And when Ratimir introduces himself, Haelvor nods self-consciously and shakes the man's hand, probably a little harder than he should.
Finally, when Vanea enters, he stares directly and determinedly at his breakfast pastry and says nothing. Am I really cut out for this? This really isn't me.
No, it most certainly isn't, murmur the voices within.
But he takes the opportunity of Vanea's retreat, planned or otherwise, to speak up.
"Would you all mind if I, er, tagged along? I really have no other business here in town and I'm at something of a loose end. I'm not sure what I'm good at, but I promise to keep my clothes on."
Shaedeen giggles at Haelvor's comment about promising to keep his clothes on.
"You were pretty good at roasting those goblins I lured to the stage yesterday," she says, lying about the 'luring' part but thinking that sounds more heroic than saying she hadn't even noticed the goblins' presence until after they'd swarmed her. "And thanks for warning me to get out of there before you flamed them. I'd say that was some pretty awesome teamwork!"
Serolt smiles when Vanea descends unclothed. Breakfast and a show, he thinks to himself.
"Sure, we can question the goblins, though I've not much skill at that sort of thing. Hopefully the sheriff has already done so and can just tell us what's up though 'eh? After all, leave that sort of thing to the professionals."
"I wonder if they use torture here. I spent some time in Korvosa, and got to see the torture room in the Guard's barracks once. It was quite something. Luckily I wasn't there as a guest of the house if you know what I mean. Just hanging about with one of their members for a time. You understand."
When Haelvor offers to join the group, "By all means my good man! That was some powerful stuff! I mean I can do pretty well with this here bow, but making flames from thin air - that's the start of something there."
When everyone is ready, he joins them to the sheriffs office. "Someone knows where we're going, right?"
"Ratimir's our guide while in Sandpoint," Shaedeen tells Serolt. "I'm starting to learn where local businesses are but the sheriff's office is not a place that I'd be familiar with."
With that thought in mind, Shae excuses herself to go back to her room and slip her thieves' tools into her safe for the time being.
Soon she's ready to go and heading off with the others, wondering how interesting a goblin interrogation will be.
"Ah, yes, I know where the sheriff's office is," Ratimir says, a sly smile on his lips. "But Sheriff Casp Avertin occupied the chair back in my day. Sheriff Belor took office shortly before I left town, so I don't know really know him." He takes a bite from a piece of bread and adds, as an afterthought, "Which is a good thing, I guess."
He leads the group to the sheriff's station, strolling leisurely while talking about Sandpoint and its (not) many wonders.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Haelvor follows behind, still not sure how to break through the tight fellowship that seems to exist at the group's core. I do actually live here he thinks.
Yes, but you don't matter, echo the voices within.
As the group of five make their way up Market street, the damage from last night's goblin raid is starkly apparent - burned bushes and broken windows are visible all around, and there does not appear to be many buildings in the market place that were spared at least some sort of damage. But the people of Sandpoint continue to live their lives as they had done two days prior, with windows being boarded up in preparation for replacement glass, and fresh coats of paint being slapped onto smoke-sodden walls.
One thing that is new, however, is the regard and gratitude in the town-folks' eyes as the group meander through the streets. Waves, greetings accompany the five through the marketplace as people approach them to give their thanks for their selfless act last night before getting back to their morning tasks.
As the group turn the corner onto Main Street they notice the broad frame of the town's Sherrif, Belor Hemlock, striding through the crowded street. He looks on edge, but at least comfortably so in a chain shirt and ochre hued half-cloak. Hemlock looks up and appears to be momentarily startled by the group's appearance in the street, before he regains his wits and strides up to the group. Trailing not too far behind him is Father Zantus, dressed in a much simpler sky blue cassock and a wide brimmed hat that appears to be keeping the early morning sun from getting into his eyes.
"I was just on my way to come find you at the Dragon, but it appears the gods are on my side and have saved me a trip," the Shoanti man sais as he reaches his hand out to each of the adventurers to give it a firm shake. "I wanted to extend the town's official thanks you each of you, for what you did at the Cathedral last night. Many more lives could have been lost had it not been for you all."
Shaedeen's a bit unnerved by her newfound popularity amongst the citizens of Sandpoint...and discovers she kinda likes the adulation. When Sheriff Hemlock shakes her hand, though, Shaedeen's again meek and frightened, the natural state of a burglar beneath the watchful eyes of a lawman.
When she feels confident enough to speak again, Shae manages to blurt, "Any news outta the goblin prisoners?"
Serolt gladly shakes the other Shoanti's hand. He idly wonders what quah he's from, but does not ask.
He is about to ask about the prisoner when Shaedeen beats him to it. He waits quietly for the answer.
Sheriff Hemlock shakes his head at the question. "I'm afraid not, miss - the prisoners we caught, including the one captured alive by you lot, have proven sadly to be most useless under interrogation. When they aren't trying to bash their skulls open against the bars or wriggling out of their bindings, they bleat only about being given orders to kill everyone and burn down the town - something we had already figured was their objective."
The sheriff shifts on his feet and turns his head to motion for Father Zantus to come closer. "Now, the reason I was on my way to come find you was that I'd like to ask a favour of you all and accompany me to the town's Boneyard to look into something for Father Zantus and I, if you wouldn't mind taking time out of your morning?"
A cacophony of whispers, many voices overlapping, but all saying the same thing, launches inside Haelvor's mind.
Remember your place! Remember your place! Remember your place!
The voices cut across one another, echoing and re-echoing into a kind of white noise, but all of them chide him to remain silent.
Haelvor carefully positions himself at the back of the group, folds his arms and waits for one of the Varisians to answer on his behalf.
Shaedeen offers Father Zantus a meek wave and smile while looking to make sure the older fellow's got his breastplate fastened correctly today (assuming he's even wearing one). Like Haelvor, she says nothing but merely falls into line. As she stands near the quiet half-elf, she notices his folded arms and wonders what the body posture means. Is he angry about something?
Serolt notices Haelvor's reticence about conversing with the sheriff. I wonder if he knows something I don't. Maybe you should let someone else talk a bit and just watch and see. Smart man that Haelvor...
The Shoanti man nods at the sheriff politely, but noncommittally. He watches the man, and waits to see what the others, who know him, have to say.
Alas, he cannot read the other man's face. He waits.
Ratimir looks to the sides and, seeing the others hesitating to comply, turns to the Belor Hemlock and says, clapping his hands, "Of course, Sheriff! Just lead the way. And you, Father, I must visit that new cathedral of yours! I look forward to hearing you talk some more about The Great Dreamer," he says bowing slightly.
Sheriff Hemlock nods as his face becomes slightly less stern, the Shoanti man's version of a smile. "Excellent. We can take something of a shortcut past the town hall, which will give us a moment of privacy to talk," he says, looking around at the passers by, many of whom do indeed seem to be slowing down as they pass the new heroes of Sandpoint.
Father Zantus turns to Ratimir and nods. "Of course, once we have prepared for another, much more subdued consecration of the new cathedral, everyone is welcome to visit. We were preparing for the Cathedral to be open to the public today, but, well," he says, he voice trailing off distractedly as the older man's thoughts turn to the previous nights events.
The sheriff leads the group further up Main Street, where passers by continue to utter their thanks to the adventurers. As they pass The Curious Goblin, the bookstore owned by Chask Haladin, an older, heavy set woman comes barreling out of the bakery across the road, dressed in an apron that is far too clean for her to have been doing any baking today. In her arms she carries a shallow basket covered in a plain white cloth, and she presses it into Shaedeen's arms as she looks over the girl's lithe form, shaking her head while smiling and tutting at the same time. "I say pet, you are going to catch your death of chills this winter coming if you don't eat. Look at you! Please take your fill - my girls baked them fresh this morning."
As Shaedeen lifts the cloth to see what is in the basket, the smells of baked herbs and fresh bread waft out from underneath as she see's one of the items the bakehouse is renowned for - fresh herb and cheese bread rolls. There are almost a dozen of them under the cloth.
Haelvor, who'd been distracted by looking out to see whether Master Quink was at the gameboard outside the bookstore, snaps back into the present as he recognises the woman. He taps Shaedeen on the shoulder and tries to give her a knowing look.
"I'm sorry, Miss Valzanar; it's just occurred to me I forgot to reply when you thanked me earlier for warning you about straying into that unwanted encounter yesterday. It was really rather rude of me. I really do apologise. And anyway, I'd hope you'd do the same for me."
He turns to the baker. "Mistress Avertin, how nice to see you, the pastries smell delicious. I wish we'd had that bread when we were having breakfast just a very very short time indeed ago. Most unfortunate."
Not quite as polite as Haelvor, Serolt takes a roll if offered... he cannot turn away such an incredible smell!
"Thank you." he murmurs as he chomps in. Regin, being largely a meat eater, isn't offered any.
How did I get so lucky? he considers as he follows the others and the sheriff.
Shaedeen's a little baffled to be given something rather than having to take it, not to mention by what sounded like a veiled warning from Haelvor.
Avertin.... Shae had heard the name before, from Kaye at the Kitten. A fine baker, she and her girls, though the mother at least was something of a nosy busybody, by Kaye's account anyways. Shae recovered nicely from the surprise of getting a gift to dish out a little flattery to the woman.
"Wow! For me? Thank you--that's very thoughtful and generous of you. I haven't been in town a week yet, but I've already heard praise for your bakery and its goods. Mind if I share them with my friends?" Thinking she caught a frown forming on the sheriff's face, she quickly adds, "Oh--and the sheriff and Father Zantus, too, of course! Thank you again!"
Turning to Haelvor, Alma beams a friendly grin at him. "Well, as I've told Brodert before, breads not just for toasting in the morning with your cup of tea. But if you like, I can have the girls prepare another batch for you for the morning? Are you staying together?" she queries, flicking her gaze between Shaedeen and Haelvor, barely noticing the harrumph coming from Sheriff Hemlock.
The large baker then smiles and shakes her head at Shaedeen. "Of course, please share them if you feel rightly about it, just make sure to save yourself some or you'll waste away." she catches a glimpse of the Sheriff's scowling in her direction, and her warm smile falters for a brief second before returning. "Anyways I'd best be off. Those girls of mine may be up to all sorts of mischief in the bakery if I'm not there to watch them like a hawk. You all enjoy the rolls now!" Alma says as she all but scuttles back towards the bakery, turning back only once before heading into the establishment. Sheriff Hemlock shakes his head lightly and sighs audibly.
"She means well, but she just can't keep her nose to herself," he says, gesturing to the adventurers to keep moving before they are accosted by more gift givers and well wishers. As they approach the Town Hall, Hemlock steers the group down into a small garden walkway surrounding it that appears to be significantly less traveled than the main road.
The Shaonti man turns to face the five adventurers, while Father Zantus stands off to one side. "Now that we are out of earshot, the reason I would like you to come with me to the boneyard is that Father Zantus came to me requesting an investigation into the vandalism of the Vault of the Interred."
"It is where the previous priests and caretakers of the cathedral and the boneyard are laid to rest, Father Zantus pipes up, clearly distressed by this. "Naffer, the caretaker, told me this morning not long after he'd rung the dawn bell that he was walking the boneyard when he saw the door for the Vault hanging ajar, and he could hear sounds coming from inside. Frightened as he was, he came back to the cathedral and told me immediately, and I came down to tell the good Sheriff this morning."
Sheriff Hemlock nods, letting the priest's words sink in before he continues. "I had hoped that you would help to investigate in order to assure Father Zantus that it is probably nothing more than goblin escapades."
"The caretaker heard sounds in there this morning?" Shaedeen asks Father Zantus. "Maybe it's more goblin raiders!" the girl theorizes. "Coming so close on the heels of the goblin raid, this break-in might be related somehow--I'm not a big believer in coincidence. If it is goblins, we should try to take them alive for questioning!"
Shaedeen draws her new sap from her belt instinctively before remembering that it is, in fact, a stolen sap. Then--also instinctively--she holds the weapon down near her hip, trying to casually keep it hidden from Sheriff Hemlock.
"It is where the previous priests and caretakers of the cathedral and the boneyard are laid to rest, Father Zantus pipes up, clearly distressed by this. "Naffer, the caretaker, told me this morning not long after he'd rung the dawn bell that he was walking the boneyard when he saw the...
Serolt looks to the others and wonders how effective he'll be in tight quarters. "I'm not sure how much I can help. Tight quarters might just make my bow nigh on useless, but I've a long sword too, and I have used it before." he grins lopsidedly eyeing his blade. I wonder if it's still sharp?
"But you can count me in."
Ratimir slaps Serolt on the back. "Don't sell yourself short, my friend! You should see with a longsword before doubting your skills," he jokes. "But alas, it cannot be worse than what we faced yesterday, so let's take a look. Plus," he says drawing a harrow card with some showmanship, "We're in for quite a ride, it seems."
He shows the card to father Zantus. "Knowledge and madness. Any of your predecessors fit the description, father?"
Haelvor realises, with a sense of mounting panic, that of all the group he's least equipped to actually be an adventurer. Should I already have a longsword? he thinks. Where do I buy one? I wonder where I put that spear I found yesterday ...
More proof, whisper the voices, that you're not really cut out for this.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Father Zantus peers at the harrow card presented to him by the cartomancer and shakes his head. "I only knew Ezakien Tobyn with any degree of closeness as a student of his before his untimely passing in the fire five years past. And while he was an extraordinarily compassionate man and an expert teacher, he was also very much sane."
As the priest muses over the nature of the card's portent, another man's voice cuts in. "Haelvor, my boy, there you are! Alma said you were around here somewhere," Brodert says as he ambles up carrying a backpack and a spear, while behind him trail three young children of about nine or ten years of age.the two boys are carrying a set of scale mail with a buckler on top of it, while a young girl proudly carries a morningstar in her arms like it was the most important thing in the world.
"I was getting some bread for breakfast and Alma said you were here with Sheriff Hemlock, and I've also heard that you were involved in saving people at the Cathedral last night - is that true?"
"I ... helped these people. Save other people."
"Master, I've asked if I may join them. They said yes. I ... am to be an adventurer, I think. I ... thank you. Thank you!"
He kneels, takes the gifts from the Master Quink and from the children.
"I shall not forget this, or you. I shall ... try to do good things. To make things better."
He bows, awkwardly.
The voices within are, for once, silenced.
The voices within are, for once, silenced.
...or perhaps they merely vacation nearby briefly in the fertile uncertainty of Shaedeen's mind.
"I shall...try to do good things. To make things better." Those are Haelvor's spoken motivations...or vows to do something with his new life.
What about you, Shaedeen? Since when do you do good things...do you make things better? Only when you yourself benefit from the deed.
I gave that little girl the doll I won at goblin-tossing! Shaedeen answers the dark accusation. I stood up to real goblin invaders! And now I'm off to a haunted graveyard without any reason other than it's the right thing to do! I can be a hero! I can be good!
Goodish, anyways.
Speaking of good...Shae helped herself to another of the tasty herb and cheese rolls.
Serolt scratches Regin behind the ear as he watches the scene unfold. Brilliant! he thinks to himself.
He worries about what is to come, but he's ready to go to help the town.
Might even help a bit when I start my lodge. Such grandiose thoughts! he laughs quietly to himself.
Brodert nods, a wide friendly smile planted firmly under his white moustache. "And that is all this world will ask of you, my boy," he says as he hands over the worn backpack. "That you do as best as you can to help where you can."
With Haelvor's new equipment given over to him, Brodert gives the half-elf one last reassuring smile before turning around and shooing the three children out of the gardens with the promise of fulfilling payment with sweet pastries being cooked from the bakery. Sheriff Hemlock allows for Haelvor to don his armour and weapons comfortably before moving on, clearly keen to get to the town's boneyard.
The remainder of the short trip is silent save for the continued gratitude from passers by, and soon the group led by the Sheriff and Father Zantus arrives at the Cathedral Square. "Father Zantus, if you wouldn't mind heading into the Cathedral, I will lead the adventurers to the Vault." Father Zantus, his face etched with worry still, nods."Oh, of course Sheriff. You will come and tell me what you all find when you are done, yes?"
The sheriff nods and gives his best non-frown to the priest. "We will," he says, which appears to be enough for the older man to begin walking up the stairs towards the cathedral's doors. Sheriff Hemlock motions towards a small path along the edge of a steep hill that leads around the cathedral toward the boneyard. It is a neatly kept graveyard, with a meandering path that appears to have grown organically over the decades as more people are interred, and as the group round the southern wing of the cathedral, the stained glass image of Desna can be seen watching over those taking their eternal sleep.
Stopping just inside of the boneyard, Sheriff Hemlock stops and turns to the group, confident that they are all alone. His expression is grave as he looks over the five adventurers. "There is one thing that I neglected to tell Father Zantus, that I feared would upset him more unduly than is needed, and I trust that your discretion will be used as I tell you this. The goblins - specifically the one that you all caught - had one other thing to say in that their leader had a secret mission in the graveyard and that the leader was a 'longshanks like us', for whatever that means.
"That Father Zantus came to me this morning with possible vandalism of the Vault cannot be coincidence. Goblins are crafty beyond doubt, but misdirection is too much to fathom from the loathsome beasts."
"Does anyone know one of those light spells? I'm guessing it'll be dark inside this Vault."
Serolt listens closely to the sheriff, and nods. "Organized goblins. Who'd have thunk?" he mumbles.
"Does anyone know one of those light spells? I'm guessing it'll be dark inside this Vault."
"I can craft light for short bursts - and am happy to do so."
"I met a man in Riddleport once though. He taught me there is darkness that not even magical light such as that will pierce. He had an ioun stone, with a Continual Flame cast upon it cast at a high enough level to overcome any darkness - or so he said. He wrote down the directions for such a device, and I mean to obtain one just as soon as I can afford it."
Serolt takes out his bow, checks his quiver, and pats Regin. He's ready to descend into the dark.
"I don't think it will be dark like that, Serolt. This should probably be enough," Ratimir says, closing his hand slowly and then opening it to reveal four globes of light in his palm. The speheres move in circles in his hand, until he throws them in the air and assembles them in a line in front of the group. Even in bright light, it's still possible to notice their glow. "Now, let's go see what the goblins were up to." Ratimir walks up to the vault and, reaching its gate, sends the danging lights in; the globes fly around the room to illuminate all corners, giving a complete view of the chamber.
Shaedeen scoots forward to protect Old Man Ratimir, recalling that the caretaker had mentioned hearing something inside the vault. She holds her stolen sap in her right hand, planning on KOing any lingering goblins for future interrogation, but holds her rapier in her left in case it's something else that made the noise the caretaker had heard.
Haelvor, having donned his new armour, and carrying his new gear, follows quietly behind the group, his demeanour significantly lightened by the encounter with Master Quink.
"'Longshanks like us' - I assume, then, we're looking for more than goblins ... humans or similar, perhaps?" he ventures.
"Entirely likely, though who that could be is anybody's guess," Sheriff Hemlock responds, nodding at the half-elf as the group travel through the cemetery. "When we pressed it for more information about this leader of theirs, the goblin squealed that it didn't know and that we all look alike - this was just before it tried to cave its own skull in against the cell's bars. I can see why Daviren has such a distaste for the foul creatures."
The group walk past a small fenced off section of the graveyard, guarded by a stone statue depicting a stoic winged figure holding a starknife over its heart and a shield resting in front, and the words 'Here lie the victims of the Late Unpleasantness. May they rest in peace forever more' are carved into a plaque on the shield, along with just over thirty names listed in the carving.
Continuing down the meandering path, the group stops just short of an impressive stone crypt, easily twenty feet across at its broadest. A large arched doorway with iron-bound wooden doors is in the middle, though one of the doors is off its hinges and merely seems to sit over the opening rather than in it as a normal door. A slight gap, perhaps a couple of inches wide, allows Ratimir to send the floating lights into the crypt, but he cannot see properly what is inside without moving the unhinged door out of the way.
Serolt puts his bow away and grabs one side of the door. He looks to the group, Anyone?
Assuming someone steps up, they move the door out of the way carefully so it doesn't make a lot of noise and advertise their presence. He casts light and peers into the darkness as he re-grips his bow and takes his place in the order.
Shaedeen stands ready for trouble, weapons in both hands. When she sees Serolt step forward to move the doors she looks at Haelvor and Vanea to see which will help, since Ratimir's busy directing his balls of light. Haelvor, too, looks battle-ready in his armor and with his spear at the ready. Shae makes eye contact with Vanea and motions quickly with her head toward the crypt door and Serolt.
Vanea smiles and saunters up to the doors, nudging Shaedeen out of the way with a bump of the hip and a wink. Helping Serolt lift the old wooden door to the side of the crypt, everyone can see clearly into the vault now. There isn't much time to enter and examine the crypt however, as a pair of humanoid skeletons, each garbed in scraps of metal that used to be links of chain and armed with a decrepit rusty scimitar, shuffle and animate themselves ready to attack.
Initiative - Surprise Round
22 - Hemlock
21 - Shaedeen
17 - Skeletons
14 - Ratimir
13 - Haelvor
12 - Serolt
3 - Vanea
Reaching for his longsword, Sheriff Hemlock calls out as he strides forward toward the pair who have just placed the door on the wall of the crypt. "Look out! Inside the vault, there are skeletons! Watch yourselves!"
Shaedeen sees limited options for fighting the skeletons inside the crypt so she opens the second door and prepares to meet them outside if necessary.
As Shaedeen opens up the second door to the crypt to open up avenues to attack the animated creatures, both skeletons charge forward and swing wildly at Shaedeen and Vanea respectively. The rogue deftly dodges out of the way of the wild strike, while Vanea manages to get out of the way of a deadly blow in the nick of time, her armor dampening much of the impact.
Initiative - Surprise Round
22 - Hemlock
21 - Shaedeen
17 - Skeletons
14 - Ratimir
13 - Haelvor
12 - Serolt
3 - Vanea
Round: surprise, Initiative: 12
Weapon Equipped = Bow
Regular Arrows = 15/15
Cold Iron Arrows = 25/25
Conditions = None
ranged: Attack: BAB +0, Dex +4 (rapid shot -2) Damage: +0
melee: Attack: BAB +0, Str +2 Damage: Str +2
Animal Focus (Su/Swift) (1/1m)
Spells (Caster Level 1, Concentration +3)
Zero (12): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Mending
First (13): (2/2) Cure Light Wounds, Entangle, Summon Nature’s Ally
Conditions = Surprised
Animal Focus: Bull (+2 Str - applied)
melee: Attack: BAB +1, Dex +5, Size +1Damage: Str +2
Tricks: Attack x2, Come, Down, Flank, Heel, Sneak
Serolt 5’ steps out of the way, and draws his bow, having set the door aside just moments before the attack.
”Skeletons - vile undead! I’ve never fought such a foe before!”
Haelvor waits for an opportunity to move into combat, draws his new morningstar and moves forward into the space vacated by Serolt.
In response to the skeletons' charge, Ratimir utters arcane words and fetches a piece of cured leather from his pouch. The leather strap flares up with a bluish glow and magically wraps around his hand, setting off a wave of light that engulfs Ratimir's whole body while creating a semi-solid layer of energy around him.