Gallen's eyes watered from the stench as his knees began to buckle but he fought on against the undead.
Still keeping an eye (and ear) on the other side of the boulder, Hel smashes at the foul undead if it has not yet fallen -- or, if it has, reaches in to grab one doubly-corpsed creature and drag it into the room, in order to create a gap so that the other undead don't get smart and try to move around the other way.
If the most recent draugr has fallen, and if it doesn't sound (or look) like the draugr are coming around the other way yet, Hel will use her action to try to drag one of the corpses out of the way so that the rest keep coming through that gap.
Wesh's greatsword is a part of him now. Its every swing is his swing. Thinking back on his time in prison, he's grateful to actually have his weapon of choice once again. Its deadliness speaks for itself.
He swings at the next draugr up for the slaughter.
Cole takes a moment to study the next one and attempts to trip it as well.
The draugr falls to the ground.
Gallen's eyes watered from the stench as his knees began to buckle but he fought on against the undead. His scimitar gashed the prone draugr.
Wesh's greatsword is a part of him now. Its every swing is his swing. Thinking back on his time in prison, he's grateful to actually have his weapon of choice once again. Its deadliness speaks for itself. He swings at the next prone draugr since he can't reach the next one. He neatly cuts an arm off, although the draugr is still moving.
Willow again attempts to activate the wand to heal Wesh.
She succeeds, providing him some healing.
Lutor will continue blasting at the draugr, but hitting prone targets in melee is quite challenging.
Still keeping an eye (and ear) on the other side of the boulder, Hel smashes at the foul undead. Her Sansetsukon hits quite hard, bruising it, but it doesn't seem to be down yet.
The draugr begins to stand, grabbing its axe as it does so.
Red draugr - dead
Yellow draugr - dead
Blue draugr - 3/30
Despite the difficulties of engaging from his current position and angle, Lutor continues his track.
Seeing the tumbled-down draugr still active and still trying to get to its feet, Hel underhands the three-section staff at it, trying to put it permanently out of commission. If she succeeds, great; if not, Wesh or Sir Gallen are likely to finish the job.
Once the draugr is destroyed, she again checks the other side of the boulder, then says, "Let me clear one of these things out of the way --" Once she's confident she's not going to inadvertently get an arm lopped off, she'll reach in and pull on the nearest chopped-up draugr to drag it free for the other undead to continue to squeeze through to their doom.
Wesh slashes once again with his greatsword.
Gallen does his best to prevent the undead from rising to a combat stance again before preparing once more to attack trying to build up a good momentum and pace.
Round 5
Cole continues to knock down the ones squeezing up to fight.
Seeing the tumbled-down draugr still active and still trying to get to its feet, Hel underhands the three-section staff at it, trying to put it permanently out of commission. If she succeeds, great; if not, Wesh or Sir Gallen are likely to finish the job. Hel lashed out with the staff to down the draugr as it attempts to rise, clearing the space for the next draugr to shuffle its way into the gap, swinging its axe at Wesh.
Fortunately, he is able to avoid the axe.
Cole continues to knock down the ones squeezing up to fight. His spear trips up the draugr, knocking it to the ground.
Gallen does his best to prevent the undead from rising to a combat stance again before preparing once more to attack trying to build up a good momentum and pace. His scimitar strikes down, gashing the undead.
Wesh slashes once again with his greatsword. He hits the prone draugr, cutting it further.
Willow waits for the next injury.
Despite the difficulties of engaging from his current position and angle, Lutor continues his track. His ray goes high.
Once the draugr is destroyed, she again checks the other side of the boulder, then says, "Let me clear one of these things out of the way --" Once she's confident she's not going to inadvertently get an arm lopped off, she'll reach in and pull on the nearest chopped-up draugr to drag it free for the other undead to continue to squeeze through to their doom.
The draugr flails its axe in her general direction as she does so, but doesn't come close to hitting her as she drags a corpse out of the way.
The draugr begins to rise again, but Wesh lops its head off, dropping its body to the ground and causing the next one to shuffle forward.
The next draugr comes up and attacks Gallen.
Gallen is able to easily defend himself.
Red draugr - dead
Yellow draugr - dead
Blue draugr - dead
Orange draugr - dead
Purple draugr - 30/30
Green draugr - 30/30
Round 6
Cole takes study of the next to approach and continues his work.
"Finally we are working as a team. We can accomplish much moving forward."
"Yes. Much more smoothly.", Lutor replies, and without sarcasm, as he launches another bolt.
Wesh continues his assault with the next draugr. At this rate, the battle will be won soon.
"If you're idle Willow I could use some healing from the wand." Gallen points out before swinging his scimitar down onto the Draugr's head.
"Indeed," agrees Hel, "much more smoothly." She keeps out of the way of the two frontliners' vigorous swings, lashing out if necessary to smash at the tripped draugr, but otherwise keeping ready -- a quick check to see if the last (or at least she hopes it's the last, she's honestly lost count) draugr will continue to try to force the gap, or if she needs to pull another corpse away to lure it through -- and then, if luck holds out, use her sansetsukon to snatch its axe away.
Cole takes study of the next to approach and continues his work. "Finally we are working as a team. We can accomplish much moving forward." The draugr goes down as Cole tangles its legs with his longspear.
"If you're idle Willow I could use some healing from the wand." Gallen points out before swinging his scimitar down onto the Draugr's head. He splits the head, although somehow it isn't finished from that.
Wesh continues his assault with the next draugr. At this rate, the battle will be won soon. He finishes off the prone draugr.
Willow attempts to heal Gallen with the wand.
There's a sparking zap, and the wand goes dead in her hands.
Lutor waits until the next draugr is in sight. Once it is, he fires an effective ray of frost, causing part of the creature's body to freeze.
"Indeed," agrees Hel, "much more smoothly." She keeps out of the way of the two frontliners' vigorous swings, lashing out if necessary to smash at the tripped draugr, but otherwise keeping ready -- a quick check to see if the last (or at least she hopes it's the last, she's honestly lost count) draugr will continue to try to force the gap, or if she needs to pull another corpse away to lure it through -- and then, if luck holds out, use her sansetsukon to snatch its axe away. The sansetsukon wraps around its axe and wrenches it out of the draugr's hand.
The draugr attacks Wesh, swinging a waterlogged arm at his head.
The warrior ducks easily, avoiding its blow.
Red draugr - dead
Yellow draugr - dead
Blue draugr - dead
Orange draugr - dead
Purple draugr - dead
Green draugr - 30/30, disarmed
Round 7
And again Cole takes study of the last one as it comes up and he trips it.
Gallen swings several inches above the undead's head.
Pleased by progress, Lutor keeps blasting.
Hel, seeing Sir Gallen's dubous swing, takes one of her own; she isn't certain if this is the last one or not, but certainly she can try to lay into the prone undead until the next one shows its head.
Wesh swings at the newly disarmed draugr. He's not sure whether he loves or hates the fact that his opponent is disarmed, but it certainly makes the fight safer.
And again Cole takes study of the last one as it comes up and he trips it.
Gallen swings several inches above at the undead's head, but misses the head and only gashes the shoulder of the prone draugr.
Wesh swings at the newly disarmed draugr. He's not sure whether he loves or hates the fact that his opponent is disarmed, but it certainly makes the fight safer. He cuts off a leg.
Willow says, "I don't think the wand will work for me right now," as she struggles to activate it.
Pleased by progress, Lutor keeps blasting, slightly chilling a patch of the prone undead.
Hel, seeing Sir Gallen's dubious swing, takes one of her own; she isn't certain if this is the last one or not, but certainly she can try to lay into the prone undead until the next one shows its head. With a final thwack, the draugr stops moving, and there is silence.
"Well done. Now that is teamwork. I'm proud of how the plan came together. We now should only have the final test remaining. Willow may I have the wand back?
"Is anyone hurt before we move to the final room? We still need to search room eight where these undead came from as well."
"I'm still injured, if we can't get the wand working again I can always stick to using my pilums before risking closing to engage in melee."
"Since we approach the final test I would see you both at full strength. Anyone else hurt? No then we should be able to make our way to room 8 now and search and see what the final inscription may be."
Wand Status: 40/50 charges remain.
"My thanks Cole. Let us finish these trials so we can move on to greater tasks." Gallen checks his gear before the proceed.
Wesh nods in thanks to Cole as well. He still has a couple bruises, but that won't stop him from dealing with whatever threats remain. He takes a couple moments to catch his breath before preparing to lead the way to the next room.
"I can't imagine there will be much left in the eighth room, though perhaps the ninth will still hold surprises. We'll find out soon enough."
Lutor looks around.
"Our cooperation and coordination is improving. Excellent. Let us resume our advancing order. And maintain disguises.", he says, still resembling a Mithran crossbowman.
Hel nods agreement, and once more takes up her bow and takes her place, concentrating momentarily on the disguise she's worn the entire time, just to make sure it's still 'on'. "Lead on," she says from the back row. "Let us discover what the last lessons are."
You go back through to the eighth room. The doors have been broken and thrown open by the draugr, but the inscription is still visible. It reads, “Beware the fallen for they may rise once more to threaten you.”
Within are eight wooden coffins, encrusted with barnacles and clearly of sodden wood. Six of the eight coffins have broken lids and are empty. The other two coffins remain intact. There is a door in the east wall. Opening that door reveals a short hallway leading to another door. This is the first you have seen that differs from the others - banded in iron, there is a stout lock on the outside of the door. Hanging on a peg in the wall next to the door is a key on a ring. Above the door are inscribed the words, “Serve thy master well and be rewarded.”
"Well what could be behind here? All it commands is service to Asmodeus? Should be easy enough. Should we check those to intact coffins? I would hate to have two more of the undead come out behind us."
"That is possible best to be sure and check. Cole as we step through the door might I suggest you lead us in a prayer to Asmodeus? The words may seek to prompt us into showing deference and obedience."
Lutor stares at the door, seeking magic auras.
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"Oh, Hell no," says Hel with a touch of -- disgust? contempt? maybe disappointment? -- whatever it is, it's something in her voice, even though her volume is kept low, so as not to be heard on the other side of the iron-bound door. "[b]Are we not good Talirean soldiery? A prayer to Asmodeus would discard any practicable use of that disguise. And think -- think!!
"The squire Timeon has told us his knight must be down here, and now I expect the service required of us is that to which we are put by Thorne. Sir Balin of Kierkegaard, Knight of the Alerion, a good, faithful, and famous witch-hunter of Mitra, no doubt wears a Mitran amulet of silver-and-sapphire: undoubtedly that which we have been sent to retrieve. He is undoubtedly skilled and strong, and though he might well trade his amulet for his squire's life, do any of us really think the Cardinal would allow such a man to leave this place with his life, even were his mind erased of memory or sanity?" She shakes her head. "I doubt it. Nor, I confess, would I; Balin may not be the one who sent my parents to the stake, but he is the very type to have done so, and I would not set him loose to torment some poor soul just because ... well, just because."
Hel gestures towards the door, banded and locked but with the key on the ring beside it. "Open the door. Exclaim relief we have found him alive. Examine the room so that we might flank him. Lutor and I shall remain guarding the exit, purportedly to be ready if the remaining dead in the other room should rise. Form up around him, I don't know, say that since we've cleared out everything, we're going to escort him back to his squire, and then escape this place with him. Once the four of you have surrounded him -- we strike, swift and true.
"Deceive always thine enemy,[/b]" she says, quoting -- or at least paraphrasing -- the lessons recently learned. "Know thine enemy. Be ruthless to thine enemy. Be mighty, with no sympathy for the weak. Suffer not the fool who is deceived. Be secretive, and expose yourself only if needed. Make sure of his fall, that he might not rise once more. And thus we shall serve our master well -- and be rewarded."
Wesh nods in answer to Cole's question. "Yes, we should certainly examine the remaining two intact coffins. If it seems they're occupied, we may want to pierce them with our blades to minimize our risk. We certainly don't want to be attacked from both sides."
Regarding the next room, the fighter says, "I would appreciate a prayer before we go inside. We can stay a ways back to make sure we're not overheard, but I think it's best we be as prepared as possible, mentally and physically.
"If Sir Balin is inside, then we will slay him and be done with this place. He must not be allowed to leave here alive."
Wesh goes over to the coffins and examines them to see if he can tell what might lie inside.
Cole smiles and nods.
"I agree Hel. Look all Asmodeus cares not for your prayers only your loyalty and service. We discussed this at dinner. I will not placate him with your prayers when you wish to be seen. He demands faith and service without question. Hel is right. Follow the teachings and serve thy master. I will warn it is possible with the white ravens here that we are not the first being tested, and if Sir Balin is behind that door we may not have a chance to spring a trap. Be prepared for an attack and do not let him surprise you. Now let us check the coffins and finish these trials."
Wesh opens the two coffins, revealing only the corpse of a drowned sailor in each. Not wishing to take chances, he stabs both with his greatsword.
Lutor detects no magic upon the door. However, he does detect a very faint Abjuration aura inside the room. The aura is does not appear to be an active spell, but possibly an item that grants some kind of protective boon.
The door awaits, with the possible Sir Balin on the other side.
"An ajuration aura within the room, a protective effect if not a spell. Potentially, a good Mithran that we wish to meet."
Hel begins to laugh softly at Lutor’s suggestion about wishing to meet the “good Mithran.” “Indeed we do. Shall we, then?”
Gallen did his best not to let his anger get the better of him too much "Hel you might find it beneficial to listen to people with differing viewpoints. I did not order, I put forward a suggestion. Sir Balin might be on the other side but it's not a guarantee. I did not march through praying without consulting with the group I said suggest. Disagree if you like and you're points aren't bad but when you fall to pontificating it's almost enough to make me want to just kick the door open so you'll stop."
Gallen then takes a breath. "There are multiple ways to interpret the words. Would it not be wise to consider other interpretations in the time we have left? With the amount that has already been said at this point a prayer prior to entry would cause no further harm. Not doing so while going through the door is probably wise... probably."
"I an no barrister but the only interpretation of the words are how Asmodeus sees them. So far they have been quite literal. The only tricks have been because we didn't see it so black and white. I for one am ready to finish this. Let's go."
As the door is being opened Cole will cast Divine Favor on himself.
The archer's emotive affect -- her facial expression -- is flat as she processes Sir Gallen's irritation. "I was taught," she admits, though her expression shows neither remorse nor understanding of why Gallen is angry, only knowledge that he is, "to explicate my chain of logic when the opportunity presented itself. I have not been convinced," and here she gives a subconscious glance towards Wesh, "that my directions are likely to be generally followed; therefore, my explanation. It is something ... we might more fully discuss at a later time."
"Asmodeus," she agrees with Cole, "but also Thorne. This is, after all, the Cardinal's lesson plan ..."
"I have no objection with proceeding under the ruse." Gallen said and lefting it at that. Saying more would likely be like throwing alchemisters fire on the hearth. He had said his piece.
Wesh waits till everyone is ready, then uses the key to unlock the door. He opens it with one hand while holding his greatsword with the other.
Wesh opens the door to reveal a human man, tall with dark hair and a beard. He wears plate mail with a tabard of the Knights of the Alerion over it, and holds a longsword and shield. About his neck is a silver and sapphire pendant of star with the sapphire in the middle.
This is the holy symbol of Mitra.
Seeing what appears to be six Mitran soldiers before him, he seems to relax slightly and says, "I am Sir Balin of Kierkegaard, Knight of the Alerion. Identify yourselves, and tell me where we are."
Cole studies the man as the door opens, after he speaks he takes a step forward and addresses him.
"Sir it is good to find you. I am Sebastian, I server under Srgt. Hale in the north east. We heard you had went missing so a few garrisons's deployed search parties. Looks like we are the lucky ones that found you."