Jarif looks around the room, seeing a battered but whole group of free, living people against the single remaining skeleton. He pauses and catches his breath while he waits for the skeleton to make a move.
Robilar's attack misses. The skeleton attacks Haska, swinging its broken scimitar in a wild arc ...
... which Haska easily avoids.
Goldi stays put urging Ka'narg to take the skeleton down.
she pats him on the butt for encouragement and Ka'narg feels a small surge of magic run through him.
"Get up here, half orc, we need yer strength!" Haska shouts, and then pauses.
for
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Ka'narg steps up towards the pillar and swings around it towards the skeletin, hoping to catch the undead creature with the blade of his axe.
Ehlers misses, but Haska's blow is enough to shatter the skeleton. Ka'narg's subsequent strike smashes in within seconds, clanging against the pillar as the shards of the skeleton explode outwards.
Haska murmurs a prayer and follows Ehlers.
Ka'narg brushes some bone chips from his shoulders and turns to Ehlers. "You did well enough even without spells and despite your affliction from the shadows. Don't underestimate your capabilities - or those of others for that matter," he says before preparing to descend further into the crypt.
Jarif gathers his things, rearranging his weapons once more so he's carrying his shortsword and the dagger Ka'narg gave him. "Skeletons. I'll be happy if I never see another one again. Give me something I can pierce instead.". He continues down the stairs with the others.
Before the group moves, Goldi stops them.
"Guys, I'm sorry, but I ... I don't think I can continue. I'm really ... well I'm really shaken up. Back there I hesitated. I don't think that's a good thing. I get the feeling things are going to get worse and I'm going to be less help. I think the best thing I can do here is to go and keep Roldare company. If you need help or healing, remember I'm back there and head for Roldare's hide-out."
With that, she wheels the pig to her side and withdraws back to the north.
The rest of the group descend to the level beneath.
At the bottom of the stairs is a circular chamber with three passageways leading from it. In the centre is a small stone pedestal. The sound of dripping water can be heard coming from the eastern passageway, while the stench of rot emanates from the west.
There's nothing unusual about the pedestal, but the floor bears an inscription spiralling out from the pillar and written in Common. It reads: “To the south you might take your ease, to rest and reflect on Kassen’s deeds. To the east lies the wheel, to open the gate. To the west is the resting place of Kassen, hero of the Fangwood.”
Jarif steps up when Ehlers calls, and takes a look. He also takes a look at each exit to the room.
"Well, this all seems pretty basic to me. We've got this text on the ground, but that almost certainly relates to the damn 'quest' that they sent those folks on, and probably has not much to do with anything that *we're* concerned about." He points down the western passage. "Based on the smell, something nasty is down that way."
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After Jarif speaks Robilar nods "I agree, but I am inclined to think that the basic steps of said quest still remain to be completed. If I were an ungodly abomination that controls undeads, I'd hide in Kassen's resting place... but we will probably need to go to the east and open the door first. And what is that about "to rest and reflec on Kassen's deeds"?" We could secure whatever lies south before heading east and finally entering the tomb proper.
"Let's stay away from the smell just yet." Haska begins walking towards the south, what lies in these other directions, I wonder?
He's got a good eye for traps, and some good sense as well. That doctor's gonna make something of himself one day, though it may be more in exploration than medicine. Jarif agrees with the consensus, and continues with the others to the south. "Good thinking gents. South it is."
The short passageway takes a bend before ending in a small chamber dominated on the far side by a silver fountain quietly burbling perfectly clear water. An inscription above the fountain reads “Kassen’s legacy lives on with his people. Drink and be refreshed.”
Haska eyes the water leerily at first, then dips his finger in for a taste. If he detects nothing foul after that, he cups his hands and begins using them to take larger drinks.
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Haska's face doesn't show that he heard Ehlers, and he doesn't reply. A%%&!%#
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Jarif observes Haska's reaction to the water. "Based on the riddle, I'd guess that this is a safe place. The water should be clean, and may even be healing. But riddles are designed to mislead. Ehlers' caution may be right, rude though it may be."
Rude isn't the half of it. Back in my day…. Wait, how old have you gotten, man? Back in my day indeed—that elf is almost certainly older than you!
The water is deeply refreshing; it has no obvious ill effects on Haska, but as he drinks he seems to be suffused with a healthy glow.
Jarif, seeing Haska seemingly responding well to the cool water, takes a deep drink himself.
As with Haska, Ehlers and Jarif seem to be suffused with a strange, positive glow when they drink the water.
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Robilar patiently observes the imbibing process from behind, taking notes on a small piece of paper.
"Ummh... amm... would any of you be so kind as to explain how do you feel? Is it invigorating? Is it healing you? Does it taste weird?" he asks, not moving his eyes from the paper.
The aspiring doctor then proceeds to take a sip to taste the water himself. After nodding convinced, Robilar puts his backpack in the ground and takes out his iron pot, as well as his sewing tools and a bunch of leather straps.
"If you don't mind waiting, I will sew together these straps to... mmmmh... um... ah! To make a lid for the pot, so we can keep some fresh healing water in hand. I don't know if the water itself is healing or its power is related to this place, but in the worst case we'll have Kassen's Certified water to cook tonight."
If nobody objects, Robilar starts to work in his majeshift lid and afterwards fills the port with water.
Hearing Robilar's question, Jarif holds the last swallow of water in his mouth for a moment. He swallows. "It's almost a little sweet, I guess. Very refreshing. And I feel none of the pain of that last battle at all." He leans his head back down close to the water, and breathes deeply of the fresh, cool air near the surface.
He'll offer no objection to Robilar trying to take some along. I don't think it'll work, but if that kid can make this portable, we're in business--literally. Might have to discuss terms before this is done.
As Ehlers greedily drinks more from the fountain, the effect isn't repeated. Neither does he seem externally refreshed, nor is there a repetition of the water's beneficial effects.
Jarif takes a moment to give the room a thorough once-over, just to make sure that there's nothing interesting concealed within.
Jarif prefers to avoid the hallway with the foul odor, so he votes the opposite.
The party return to the room with the stairs to the upper level, and this time take the eastern corridor. This soon begins to slope down a bit. Water has has collected in the corridor, growing deeper as the passage continues. This is obviously the source of the dripping noise heard in the previous room, as the ceiling appears to be leaking in many places.
The corridor reaches a junction, allowing the group to move either north or south.
"North is as good as any, no?"
Jarif will make sure that we're not surprised by any deviousness in the path ahead.
Along the northern passageway the water grows even deeper, eventually reaching a depth of just over two feet. At the end of the corridor is a swollen wooden door, barely contained by its decaying frame.