As far as I can recall, some of the restless dead do carry diseases, why ?
Heaving a sigh, Jens motions Heinrick over. "Got scratched by the dead thing you might have seen outside," he explains, gesturing to the wound. "I've had worse, but you never know what kind of filth they might be carrying. Haven't fought so much as a zombie since I did a job in Ustalav back in '91; after training for demons for so long, my knowledge of the undead is mostly forgotten. Figured a man of the cloth might have a better idea."
Bedding down for the night, Iolana gets comfortable and drifts off to sleep.
Heinrick comes over.
That isn't good, let me look
After about 10 minutes.
I cannot see anything, but looking at it in the light of day might be more conclusive.
"Figures," the ageing man sighs, going back to removing his armour. "Well, best get some sleep, lad. I'll wake you for your watch."
I don't know what else might be wandering here, but a watch will not go amiss.
through the night Heinrick will provide care to Jens injuries while he is on shift.
The night passes uneventfully, and you feel the passing thanks of Desna for the new temple. When you awaken you still feel her blessing, and that the temple should be a sanctuary for any good creatures that find their way here. The only way that's left unexplored would be the long tunnel that you backed out of before discovering the temple.
I have to step out for about 15 minutes
Heinrick steps out of the new church of Desna in order to pray to Iomedae for his spells, and then prepare his new spells for the day.
Tats awakens, looking around as her stomach rumbles and her head pounds. She digs through her bag, hoping to find something to eat, but only finds a few crumbs, her equipment, and disappointment. She flips open her spellbook and begins studying the pages, occasionally muttering to herself in Infernal. After a while, she stands, stretches, and places the book back in her bags.
"So, eet eez down zee long tunnel, zen? Jenssss, vill you take zee lead, or ssshould I ssscout in zee darknessss?"
Jens stretches with a series of creaks, rolling out his joints and flexing his tired muscles. He briefly inspects the wound on his neck with his fingers - thanks to the cleric's ministrations and, he suspects, the power of the holy place, it barely even hurts, though it will probably leave a scar. Scars he can deal with.
As he sets about buckling and strapping himself into his scale armour, he answers Tats with a shrug. "I'd prefer to take point, if it's all the same to you. I may not be able to see in the dark, but if we get surprised, my armour and shield will protect me." He rummages through his pack, checking that everything remains there out of habit; the glimpse of a corner of blue silk twists his heart and causes him to close the bag again.
"And how are our charges this morning?" he asks, heading over to Horgus, Aravashnial, and Anevia.
Getting up slightly early, Iolana begins stretching her legs back and arms before eating some breakfast. Seeing Tatyana looking for, and not finding, food, Iolana gets out some of her rations and walks to the woman, "I don't have much to share, but here Tatyana." She hands the food to Tats and lets the woman go about her business. Once everyone is ready to go Iolana takes a place near the middle of the group and prepares to head out.
Heinrick comes back in after praying.
I will be ready to go in a couple of minutes
He takes the time to prepare spells, grab a quick bite to eat.
Where would you like me to remain ?
The three companions wake looking a bit more rested than they were the day before. Anevia stretches her leg with a grimace, but gets onto her feet, with help of her crutch. She then takes Aravashinial's arm to provide guidance for the blind elf. Horgus wakes and looks around, and for the briefest of moments, you think you see a ghost of a smile pass his visage. It is replaced shortly by his normal mien.
The party heads down the long tunnel, with Jens in the lead, Tatyana close behind him. Claylyth and Iolana stay close to the middle with the companions, and Heinrick as the rear guard. The passage south continues for about 40 minutes, climbing gradually to a large open cavern.
Stone figures are carved into the walls of this cavern. Each depicts a different crusader clad in armor and wielding weapons, but their carved stone features contain expressions of sadness.
[spoiler=gm rolls]
Perception
Seeing the statues, Iolana finds them quite compelling, even though she can't identify them. "I wonder who they were?"
I haven't the foggiest, anyone else ?
Heinrick takes the time to dig another torch out of his pack and light it up.
"No, I am afraid I do not know. Zees eez a crussssader cccity above usss, eet makesss ssensse zat zey would ccelebrate their heroess. Per'aps a tomb?"
As the others focus on the stone bas-relief sculptures, Tats looks suspiciously around the room. "This place looks ripe for an ambush, Tats. Big, open, and your friends are distracted. Be on alert. Oh, and your father says hi." She smiles grimly, the tip of her tail twitching.
"'ow are our injured friendssss 'olding up? Eet eez better zan yessssterday, no?"
Horgus looks at Tats and just nods, sullenly.
Anevia nods, The pain is less except when I put weight on it. I think your friend was right. It'll need magic to reset correctly."
Aravashinial sighs, "Other than not being able to see, things are fine."
"Awfully strange place for such a thing," Jens rumbles, walking further into the room, aged eyes looking for signs of movement.
Walking into the room at the back of the party.
No idea, nor any idea on whom put this here.
He continues to follow the party.
Initiatives
As Jens looks back to talk to the group, and listens to Heinrick's response, two shadowy figures drop from the ceiling almost right on him. Resembling some sort of out of water squid, they lash out with tentacles. The first tentacle misses cleanly, while the second thunks harmlessly off of Jens' armor.
*************combat round 1 ************************
Heinrick, Iolana, Creature 1, Jens, Creature 2, Tats, Claylyth
Seeing the strange things drop down from the ceiling, Iolana draws her mace and begins to sing, her song a battle hymn to inspire here allies as they fight these strange foes.
Reacting due to the dropping critters, Heinrick drops his torch and grips his spear.
Iomedae, grant us strength
While he concentrates to try and figure out what these are.
Both Iolana and Heinrick recover from their surprise quickly. Iolana's voice peals out over the cave, bolstering her companions courage, and Heinrick calls upon Iomedae's favor to bless them.
One of the creatures takes another swing at Jens with a ropy tentacle. The tentacle thumps the ground with a bassy thud as Jens sidesteps the clumsy blow.
Heinrick, Iolana, Creature 1, Jens, Creature 2, Tats, Claylyth
If he was surprised by the strange, rubbery creatures falling from the ceiling and lashing out at him, Jens doesn't show it. Indeed, it's hard to tell if he even noticed the things sliding off his armour; he doesn't show any sense of urgency as he draws his sword while Iolana begins to sing and Heinrick calls upon the Inheritor's blessing. "That's all well and good, but until you tell me otherwise, I'm assuming these things die like anything else," he informs them, kicking a flailing tentacle aside before swinging his sword down at the creature.
Tats takes a look at the creatures and mutters a few words under her breath. Taking a step to the northeast, she fires a ray of frost at the northern thing.
The first creature takes another swing with a tentacle at Jens who is able to push the blow aside easily with his shield and sidesteps a clumsy attempt by the second creature. His return swing goes wide. Tatyana lets a burst of energy in the form of a ice blue ray from her hand which barely misses the creature it was aimed at.
Heinrick, Iolana, Creature 1, Jens, Creature 2, Tats, Claylyth
Heinrick seeing just the two creatures that dropped in, starts to move towards Jens to give him support.
Anyone know what these are?
Continuing her song, Iolana moves in to attack one of the creatures with her mace.
Iolana brings her mace crashing down on the closest monster's head, which deforms slightly with a wet squish. The creature turns on her, tentacles lashing out against the thing that hit it. One of the tentacles lands a glancing blow, but the tentacle manages to wrap around her waist, and she can feel it begin to squeeze.
Iolana 8/9
Creature 7pts damage
Heinrick, Iolana, Creature 1, Jens, Creature 2, Tats, Claylyth
Cursing under her breath, Tats closes with the monsters. She draws her rapier and lets her arcane power flow into the narrow blade, which glows a faint greenish color.
"Hey! Get your slimy limbs off her!" Jens growls, taking a swing at the tentacle wrapped around Iolana's waist, aiming to sever it and free her.
As the creature starts to squeeze, Jens' blade flashes out striking the tentacle near the base of the creature and slices clean through it. The tentacle and the monster fall to the ground lifeless.
The second creature lets out an unearthly shriek and flails at Jens with a tentacle, but the sight of seeing its mate killed appears to have unnerved it enough that it misses clumsily.
Heinrick seeing Jens's blade put one of the critters down, continues to move to a point where he can attack the remaining one.
Hey you overgrown lump of blubber catch
Only to trip slightly knocking his spear out of line of the creature as he moved up.
Iolana's song turns into a high pitched squeal as the creature hits her and wraps her in a tentacle, "Ewwww! Get it OFF!" With the slicing of the tentacle she calls out, "Thanks Jens!" Then moves around to get behind the creature and attack it with her mace.
Tats does her best to sneak around behind the creature without being hit. Once there, she spins, hoping to flank with Heinrick, and attempts to stab the creature, but the point of her rapier scrapes off its hide.
[ooc](+2 flanking)
"Hardly a problem, lass," Jens mutters as Iolana steps around the back of the other creature. He swivels to face it, but swings too soon, his momentum throwing off his aim.
The group practically surrounds the hapless creature, but Iolana lands the only blow, landing it with a solid thump. The creature lets out a shrill cry and flails at Jens again, but fails to make contact with anything but his shield.
**************************
Iolana 8/9
creature 4pts damage
Party up
Heinrick drives his spear at the thing to distract it from Jens's next strike.
Benefiting from the flank, Tats focuses on her form, delivering another lunge at the creature.
Jens nods to Heinrick, thanking him for the distraction. When the creature shifts around the threatening spear, his sword swings down on what he assumes is its head.
Iolana takes another swing at this thing thinking, This is kinda like that time I tried to play a drum! I broke the drum too, let's see if I can do it again!
The cry of the creature emboldens the group. Bolstered by Heinrick calling on his goddess' aid, Jens, Tatyana, and Iolana all land solid blows, ending the miserable creatures life.
************end combat***************
Seeing the creature go silent, Heinrick turns to check on the three non combatants
Is everyone all right ?
"We sssshould keep movink, or we will spend another night een zis cave."
Tats looks around quickly to see if there's anything worth taking along with them. Once she's done with that, she looks at Jens. "Are we ready?"