"If you want to find the way to town first that is fine with me too."
"Very well, time to go then. Time to see what unlocking tunes we can achieve from this key, eh?"
So saying, Narciso opens up the padlock and pushes open the door.
"Let us see what fine wonders this path holds... may they please be less... murderous... than the ones inside here have been."
With a smile, he sets foot through the door.
click
The padlock drops (and can be retrieved if someone wants it), and a long tunnel yawns before you. Eager to escape this place, the group walks through the tunnel, which angles downwards, for a good half an hour before it finishes at a final secret door. It swings open to reveal you a good 60' up on a cliff, which borders a gigantic lake on its west. A wide path follows the side of the lake before vanishing into the forest below. The cliff continues another 50' upwards, and this path appears to be made by hand, rather than by nature.
The town is much closer now, and appears to be guarded by a somewhat ghastly-looking chateau up on a hill to what you presume is its southeast. To the west of the town a large wood stretches out, and to the east are fens which feed into the lake.
The path itself continues to slowly make its way down the cliff before vanishing into a tunnel near its base.
Narciso does pick up the padlock. After all, never can know when you will need a lock and key, eh?
And follows the others to down the path.
Being a bit of an expert with locks, Fingers wants this one. He asks Narciso if he can take it and the key? If so, he fiddles with them during the down time."Ne'er know when this'll come in handy, eh?" he says, grinning and dropping it in his belt pouch. "'Specially if it turns out we're far from home."
If Narciso wants them, Fingers shrugs but even more askance at the strange fellow in their midst.
He also feels the weight of the new chain shirt on his frame. Maybe not as light as his leathers, but seems like a lot better protection from sharp, pointy things that want to rend his flesh.
Fingers stuffs his old leathers in his backpack, hoping to pawn them in the town below or if necessary, change back to them.
As the group approaches the tunnel, Fingers asks "Who can see well in the dark? P'haps they should scout ahead an' tell us if there's trouble waitin'?"
Narciso looks at the lock, then at Fingers, then at the lock again.
"I suppose so... but lose it not and break it not. Locks are not cheap, eh?"
Without much further ado, he sticks the key inside the lock and deftly hands the set to Fingers.
"I can see a little... let me look."
The pounding rain has now mostly let up and the sky is overcast with the clouds fairly low overhead. The town itself is certainly inhabited although details are too difficult to make out from this far. Several fishing boats are docked - none are out on the water currently.
To the left of the town (the side the group is one) the area is largely wooded. The town is on the edge of the woods, and to its right the area becomes marshy. Finally, further back from the town on an overlooking hill is an opulent chateau. The massive building sits behind high walls and has a massive courtyard. The architecture of the chateau is dark and bizarre, with strangely twisted spirals and a somewhat ghastly look to the building.
Well this place looks..."homey". Looks like we have some terrain to cover. I can't see a damn without light, I mean compared to the likes of Narciso and Koriko here and their elven blood.
Narciso nods in agreement.
"Yes, though that manse on the hill does not strike my senses as being overly friendly. Methinks the owner is not overly fond of guests, perhaps it is best to not visit unanounced, eh?"
... fool... we could... be living... in a place... MUCH ... more ... grand ... we SHOULD ... be there ...
No thanks, indeed not. Guests I may not need, but having better architecture is a must... less intimidating, more appealing, so I say.
His power just mentally projects the notion of rolling its eyes.
With only one direction to go, the group make their way down the mountainside towards the tunnel. As they get closer, a building can be spotted in the town which Nilan recognizes immediately. A large, grey church done to look like a small cathedral with an austere, grim look to it; a Temple of Pharasma.
--
After a couple of hours down the mountainside, the group finally enter into the tunnel, vanishing below the earth. The tunnel itself turns into ancient, wide stairs which are easy to descend. After a short while, they come to an old metal door, which hangs ajar.
Beyond the door is a spectacular hall with enormous arched ceilings. Statues line this 40' wide hallway in alcoves, which continues on beyond your light spells. A sudden stench assails your nostrils as you look in; a goblin corpse lies to your right, several weeks old. The tunnel continues on but your light does not go that far.
Further down the hallway, those of you with darkvision can spot two enormous double doors, 15' wide each and at least 40' tall. Lettering has been carved into the doors, which show no seem, keyhole, or means of egress.
Two complete suits of armour stand guard beside the doors.
A second, more modest door leads southwards.
Thank the Lady. We will find succor there... Nalun points to the Temple of Pharasma.
"Looks suspicious t'me." says Fingers. "Walk carefully, friends. That goblin was killed by somethin'"
He starts searching the floor for traps including the statues in the niches.
Nostrils flaring, Zoresk looks around warily, eyes straining in the pitch darkness. Gone from a bit of light to this. This day just keeps getting better. Looking about him warily, Zoresk replies, "Caution sounds right. Any chance we can get some light in here?"
Blinking against the sudden brightness, Zoresk keeps a firm grip on his fauchard. Glancing at the goblin, Zoresk spends a moment trying to discover what killed it.
The goblin died of a vicious wound to the collarbone from something sharp and penetrating. Fingers starts looking around the statues and area in front of the door. No traps are found.
"I would say It was killed by a sword. Seeing those vile creatures we found in the mountain, I don't have a hard time imagining why..."
Fingers are you exploring the double doors too?
Fingers will start in the areas nearest the party, and expand his search until its either cleared or he finds something.
"Yes, indeed so, but a question remains to me it does: was the sword guided by a hand or by a trapped automated defense to deter goblins without a dedicated guard whom we have yet to see, eh?"
Narciso, though unhurt physically, does seem to be having a harder time speaking in coherant sentences. He smiles weakly at the rest of them.
Narciso's question is answered as Fingers continues exploring the room. As he nears the suits of armour, a loud clank sounds out as they animate and move in to attack! As they stagger forwards they raise brutal-looking axes.
These appear to be phantom armours, a form of undead created from the souls of betrayed knights and fallen soldiers.
Koriko
Fingers
Narciso
Koresk
Nilan
---
REd armor
Grey armor
---
Irina
Drawing her sword Koriko charges past the first suit of armor directly at the one further out.
Narciso just sighs and charges forward at the closer suit.
Let him have it....
Narciso's eyes are bright blue as he attempts to electrocute the suit.
"This day just keeps getting better and better." Zoresk grumbles as he hefts his blade and charges towards the nearest of the suits of armor. As he strikes though, his footing slips on the dusty floor and his blade clangs ineffectually off the plated armor of his target.
Leaving the nearby statue to the charging Kellid, Fingers circles around trying to get behind the far statue and present a flanking opportunity for Koriko.
As the group engages in combat with the animated armour the light moves to show the end of the hallway. What appears to have once been a great entrance to this strange hall has collapsed under a cave-in. The only exits are a small door to the south, and the gigantic metal doors to the north.
Koriko charges in at the armour and slides her katana in perfectly; although it's unclear how harmed the armour is she's done something. A loud BANG echoes through the chamber as Narciso, cackling and mad with power, sends a nasty shock into the second suit. Zoresk is game to attack as well, but his blow simply bounces off of the armour.
Koriko
Fingers
Narciso
Koresk
Nilan
---
REd armor (5 dmg)
Grey armor (12 dmg)
---
Irina
Nilan moves up behind Zoresk and aids another to increase his AC
The two suits of armor retaliate at the nearest targets, one swinging out viciously at Koriko, the other at Narciso.
As Narciso cackles with mad power, a sword stops his laughing short, opening up a vicious wound in his shoulder.
Koriko
Fingers
Narciso (5 dmg)
Koresk
Nilan
---
REd armor (5 dmg)
Grey armor (12 dmg)
---
Irina (round one action)
Fingers hesitates, motioning for Koriko to step into the right position for them to have the suit of armor flanked. If the magus complies, he attacks, stabbing at the thing with his rapier from behind.
Irina moves as fast as she can in a wide arc, tumbling the width of the hallway to move in on the closest statue in a position to move to flank in the next few seconds.
Koriko sidesteps to bring the armored foe between her and Fingers and takes another swing.
Nilan moves over to Narcisco and attempts to aid his AC
Fingers' attack pings off of the armour while Irina nimbly leaps across the battlefield. Koriko lets out a battle cry and the head of a suit of armor goes flying across the room. The suit of armor collapses noisily.
The jarring impact of his last attack throws Zoresk off balance and his second strike glances off the animated armor without more then a knick.
Narciso draws forth claws again, blue eyes blazing, but more focused this time.
And so saying he slashes at the armor.
Zoresk's fauchard bangs noisily off of the armour, and Narciso's claws do no good whatsoever. The suit turns and swings out at Narciso, mindlessly, once more.
Despite Nilan's interference in its attack, the armor's axe strikes true, and the blue light in Narciso's eyes go out as he is knocked sprawling across the floor, bleeding to death.
Koriko
Fingers
Narciso (13 dmg, dying)
Koresk
Nilan
---
Red armor (5 dmg)
---
Irina (round two action)
Fingers sees the opportunity for another back-stab on this armored suit, but offers the change to Koriko and her super-awesome katana. Instead, he stands back, and helps guide her to the right spot.
He also sees the strange sorceror go down, but lacking any healing skill he can only try to quickly finish off the fight so the casters can do their work.
Koriko nimbly swings around to the other armor and brings her blade to bear once more. "Thanks" she says as Fingers sets the foe up for her attack.
Narciso ceases to bleed out as Koriko slams her sword down, ending the last armour.
End of Combat
As the armour falls apart, they both reveal complete skeletons inside.
Sheathing her sword Koriko kneels down next to Narciso.
"Nilan, do you have any healing magic left? Otherwise i shall use one of my scrolls."
Fingers pats the half-elf magus on the back. "Nice work. Glad I'm on yer good side." He says tipping her a friendly wink.
He begins looking at the skeletons armor and weapons to see if they are of high quality or value, while the others tend to Narciso.
Irina hovers over the sorcerer a moment but sees Koriko is checking him, talking to the cleric.
We need to stop. Even if its right outside here. I don't think we can risk another fight.
As you felt the biting pain of the armour's axe sink into your side you fall into a black abyss. Strangely enough though, you wake up to discover yourself in a small house faced with a huge golem. Through the window all you see are stars. The massive stone golem turns to you slowly. Its mouth moves up and down in a mimicry of human speech as loud, gravelly words echo through the house.
Narciso blinks a few times as he opens them, surprised to be alive and to be somewhere else.
"Yes, I would please. Thank you. Where am I?"
Perhaps I died and this is my reward... or perhaps I teleported somewhere... if this is a dream it is certainly the most pleasant one I have had... well, ever.
The half elf smiles at the Golem.
"I am Narciso by the way. What may I call you?"
Hands numb from the pair of skittering blows he'd dealt, Zoresk is surprised as the half-elf maid ends both threats in an instant. Glancing over to Narciso and seeing him attended to, Zoresk gives those with healing talents space to work.
As he stands frowning down at the collapsed pile of armor, Zoresk listens idly to Irina's suggestions, "Agreed that we'll need to stop and rest, but I'm concerned these things may get back up. And there's that door to be accounted for."
Nilan responds to Koriko I have no more healing magic this day. Use your infernal healing, at risk to the Halfling's soul.
Koriko produces one of her scrolls. "The magic might be of vile origin, but it will not harm him, the side effects, though unfortunate are purely cosmetic and entirely temporary.", she smears a drop of blood on Narciso's forehead and reads the words from the scroll.