"The dead should damn well know when to stay that way!" Jens growls in annoyance, taking another swing at the horror. However, being twice his already-impressive size takes a bit of getting used to.
Jens slashes at the clawing thing, but is still getting used to trying to swing at something that is down amongst his legs, and the slash goes wide. The creature reaches up trying to rake its claws down Jens' leg, but the scale armor does its work and with only a skirling shrike of metal, the claws fail to find flesh.
**************end round 3*************
Tatyana 5/10 hp
Claylyth 6/6 hp
Iolana 9/9 hp
Piousa 10/10 hp
Jens 10/12 hp
Creature 12 damage
Tatyana tries a stramazone, delivering a quick cut toward the thing's face to distract it.
The sound of claws on metal sets Jens' teeth on edge, but the annoyance of the creature's thick hide overpowers his distaste. "Good distracting there, Tats!" he exclaims, swinging again and hoping the assistance pays off.
By Her sting who would have thought I'd actually regret not having a paladin nearby?!
Claylyth hears the awful noise of the monster's claws on Jens' armor.
That was too close, if Jens gets hit by that thing again, who knows what kind of disease it carries?
Claylyth chants again but this time it is... different. She does not beseech Calistria, nor does she make mention of any arcane logic or phrase known to either Tatyana or Iolana. What she chants is at once reasurring and alien. It certainly doesn't match her previous spells.
Claylyth chants an odd chant, that defies conventional knowledge of either arcane or divine magic, but Jens feels bolstered by the odd magic. Iolana continues to user her bardic song to uplift her companions abilities, while Tatyana circles the creature, distracting it to give Jens a better opportunity.
The creature again strikes out at Jens. Its rage and ire seems to be focused on the Jens displaying his deity's symbol on his shield. Again Jens is able to get the shield between it and him. Throwing the creature to the side with the shield, he slams his sword down on the undead with such force that it cleaves through the vile creature and sparks off the floor.
***************End Combat****************
Seeing the hideous thing drop, Iolana lets out a sigh of relief, "I'm glad that thing is dead...er...dead again. Does anyone even know what it was?"
"No. Eez everyone okay? Eef so, I could ussse a patch-up. Vee ssshould continue to explore ziss, I sssuppose." Tatyana shoves her rapier back into its sheath, examining her wounds with a concerned look on her face.
Getting a small bottle out, "Here, if no one else has a way to heal you with out it, I have a potion that will help" She hands Tats the bottle but hopes someone has a way to heal her with out using it.
Horgus looks at the cleaved creature and wrinkles his face in disgust. "What do you propose we do about this? We can't just leave this...thing in the temple." He looks around the nave with an almost serene look, and says quietly "It deserves better than that."
Claylyth is stunned by Horgus' sudden show of compassion. Whether he'd meant the creature or the temple was irrelevant, it would seem the man had not completely lost his ability to empathize.
"For once I agree with him." She says, throwing a pointed thumb at him over her shoulder. Do we have anything we can use to drag it out? I don't know about you all, but I don't want to touch it."
Jens presses a hand to the claw wounds in his neck as the magic wears off, returning him slowly to his former size. Thankfully, it was a flesh wound. He makes a note to repair the chain links that had failed him.
At the talk of moving the thing outside, he nods slowly, agreeing with Horgus' storage compassion. "No way like the direct one," he shrugs, picking up the two halves of the creature and carrying them outside, where he drops them unceremoniously against the stone cavern wall.
While dragging the undead outside of the temple area, Jens hears a clinking sound and upon further investigation finds a pouch containing two potion bottles. The bottles contain Dark Yellow, Minty, Bubbly and Sweet potions. He also spots a ring of knotted gold on one of the thing's fingers.
After disposing of the undead creature's carcass (carcasses?) the group returns to the nave of the temple to find Horgus doing what he can to try and clean the altar.
"Horgusss, vat are you doink? Eez Torag a god you revere? Do you revere any godsss? And, if we are goink to ssstay here for a vhile, vould you like help?" Tats nods in thanks to Iolana and quickly downs the potion. "I vill pay you back for zisss sssomeday, eef we get out of here."
Jens tosses the pouch containing the potions to Claylyth as he rejoins the party. "They look like those healing potions we found," he points out. "Also found this. Could be useful." He turns the knotted gold ring over in one hand before passing it over, as well.
After raising one eyebrow at Horgus' cleaning efforts, he shrugs his large shoulders and starts helping wordlessly, cleaning away as much debris as he can.
Putting a hand on Tats shoulder, "You're welcome, and remember, it's not if we get out of here bu when."
Horgus looks up at Tatyana, The place deserves better than it got. Maybe this won't help, but it's the least we can do. You might want to think about helping"
I didn't think he had a soul beyond money, either, Tats. Maybe we'll have to change our opinion of him, but you know, it's a good lesson, not judging too much by first appearances. Roj's voice fills Tatyana's head, and for half a moment a tear runs down her ash-grey face. She flicks it away with her tail and goes to help Horgus.
"My hussband told me not to be judging you sssso much on your attitude earlier. Zat fall vasss terrifyink, and I vasss wronk to believe you vere of no value and just dead veight. I apologize."
Horgus gives a harumph and continues to work at cleaning. He looks at the rest of the group, grumbling in general, but continues his work on the altar, looking at the rest of the group expectantly.
Anevia rolls her eyes, and mutters under her breath,
Iolana aids the work on cleaning up the shrine particularly since Horrgus, of all people, is doing so.
Jens continues to assist, working in stoic silence.
Piousa works with the others in cleaning, and consecrating the temple.
Though she helps to clean the temple, Tats doesn't take part in the consecration. "I fear my blood vould not help zee processsss, and could corrupt eet. Better zat you do eet. I vill keep vatch outside."
After waking up in the darkness, Heinrick flails around, and finally finds his gear. Lighting a torch, and taking stock of the situation, he realizes that he is well underground.
Well, this is a fine kettle of fish, now how am I going to get back to the surface.
He then regathers his gear, and starts wandering in the hopes of finding his way to the surface.
Iolana remembers some old texts from her studies and wanderings of the world, and recalls how an old reconsecration ceremony should be done. Working on cleaning out the temple, and cleansing any taint left by the undead thing takes the group around 8 hours to complete. Once finished, the temple is newly consecrated to Desna, since Piousa, with Iolana's help is the only cleric available. Upon finishing, there is a very brief shine of light from the ceiling of the temple, reminiscent of starry constellations, that lasts only a moment, making everyone wonder if they really saw anything. The feeling of peace that falls over everyone afterwards leaves no doubt that the temple is again a safe haven.
Tats pokes her head in as the group finishes up cleaning and consecrating. "Sssso, are vee campink here for zee night, zen? Or zee day, not sssure vat time eet eez now." She pauses as the flash of light fills the room, continuing on when it's over. "Vhoa. I ssssupposse zat eez a yesss from zee temple. Anyone elssse vith an opinion?"
Muttering to himself Well, it looks like I cannot go back, so forward it is.
he takes a minute to fish a rope and hook out of his pack, and then lower his gear down then himself.
once down, he flips the rope up to bring both the hook and rope back down. Restow it, and continue on after putting his pack on.
Well hang me for a beggar Iomedae, but I think you are calling me that way.
Using the but of his spear to check the footing, he slowly makes his way to the green glow
When he gets there.
I wonder what this is
Well, I wonder what cut this in half, I hope it is something I don't run into right now.
Well, Lady, I know I will stick with you. But could you put in a good word with Torag for me.
He slowly makes his way across the cavern towards the Temple.
this looks like a place where I can take a safe break.
Satisfied at the results of their efforts Iolana says, "That was unexpected, but I'm glad it worked."
Jens stretches his back with a series of creaks and pops, before massaging the wound in his neck. "Indeed. It seems the Song of the Spheres watches us, even though we're shielded from her stars." An odd smile crosses his face, bringing with it the memory of nights spent under those very stars; the smell of grass, the sound of a whetstone on a blade, and the song of Deselde carrying across the sky.
His eyes water at the memory, and he blinks them back. "This old man suggests we sleep here," he says, sitting down and starting to remove his boots. "There's no knowing how long we've been down here, after all. Best to sleep and continue on tomorrow."
As the group gets ready to rest, the door to the foyer opens slowly, revealing a human man, dressed in adventurer's gear, much as the rest of you are.
By the inheritor, I never expected this to be occupied.
Heinrick leaves the door partially open behind himself while he moves inside and leans on his spear then looks around.
He still looks a little on edge.
Any of you know the way to the surface, I don't know how long I have been down here.
At the sound of the door opening, Jens springs into action. No sooner has Henric entered than he is cornered by a mountain of of a man, half a foot taller than him and nearly twice as broad, staring him down from behind a shield. Dried blood crusts his neck, visible above the collars of a gambeson and coat of scale armour, and his pale blue eyes burn with anger.
After a few moments, his stance relaxes, but the shield stays up, perfectly poised to block a strike. "What brings you here?" he asks, in a bassy tone that rumbles off the stone walls. "And how do we know you are to be trusted?"
Tats, having just curled up on the floor with her long, bony tail wrapped around her, struggles back to her feet. Her thin, almost emaciated frame moves lithely to Jens's side as clawed fingers grasp for a blade. Her stomach rumbles ominously, and she touches her head for a half second before looking the newcomer over. "Doesn't look to be a bug or a monster. Tats, you should see if he has food."
"I do not care who you are. Eef you haff food, give eet to me. My father eez hungry, and I ate zee lasssst of my own hoursss ago. Vee can talk vhile vee eat." Most of her body relaxes, but her tail twitches in agitation, and her claws tap out a quick rhythm on her rapier's hilt.
Dropping the torch, and getting a better grip on his spear, Heinrick moves slightly back from Jens.
What brings me here, I would say directions from the inheritor and my feet.
Am I to be trusted, I could say the same about you.
relaxing slightly due to not being attacked immediately,
I remember a square, and then darkness, since then, I have been wandering around in the dark for I don't know how long
Walking up to the new arrival, Iolana smiles, "Well, you have a point, as do we. Seeing as neither of us have attacked the other though I believe we can trust him. As for resting, it would be wise to do so while we have the chance and are reasonably safe."
As Iolana decides to trust the newcomer, Jens sighs and stows his shield. He extends a gauntleted hand to Heinrick, old eyes sizing up the younger man. "In light of recent events, you will forgive my suspicion. These are dark times, and a stranger finding us when we are at the end of a day spent fighting for our lives is somewhat too convenient. I am Jens. Jens Varmodsson."
After shaking Heinrick's hand firmly, he looks to the others. "I'll take the middle watch. He can join me."
Transferring his spear to his left hand, he takes the proffered arm
Well met Jens, I am Heinrick, Heinrick Stonewright.
I can understand the caution, but my lady just asked me if there is anyone whom might be injured?
He then picks up the torch, and looks around to see if anyone responds to his question.
Hearing Heinrick speak, Aravashinial, an elf with a bloody bandage around his head, covering his eyes, speaks up. "I know you cannot do much for my eyes, but the wound is still painful, and slow to heal, perhaps you could... He trails off waving a hand in the area of his eyes and face.
Well Jens, if you will pardon me, I will go see about him
Heinrick moves over to the elf with the bloody bandage.
I hope you don't mind, but I have to remove this to see the injury
He then carefully removes the bandage to see the injury and hopefully what caused it.
The wound is a result of some sort of burn, almost resembling a lash of fire against his face. You can tell that his eyes are burnt away, and would require some sort of regeneration spell for them to recover, but the burns could probably be healed.
Sir, you are right, I cannot do anything about the eyes, but this might feel a bit strange.
Grasping the hilt of his sword, Heinrick mumbles
Lady be with me
Now is there anyone else
Disappointed not to find food, Tats curls back up on the temple floor, falling asleep quickly. Her tail wraps around her body protectively, though the tip twitches periodically and her sleep seems restless. She sometimes wakes suddenly, fixing her yellow eyes on the nearest person for a few minutes before drifting back to sleep.
"Unless you can fix broken bones with but a touch, I believe there's nothing else," Jens replies, setting about removing his armour. As he removes his helm, his rough fingers brush against the claw-marks on the side of his neck, dangerously close to the thick artery there. "Have you known the restless dead to carry any diseases?" he asks off-handedly, sitting on the stone bench to finish removing his boots.