Ad'ifaah listens\ to the others chit chat. When she sees the strange drow attempting to kill herself by poking at a magic looking book, Ad'ifaah moves to the other side of the room.
After listening to the others discuss matters:
Well, it seems that there is some sort of strange occurrence happening at the old prison, what did they call it, the Harrowstone I believe. From the sounds of it, there is a group of necromancers who follow the Whispering Way who are doing something that will be detrimental to the town. The Professor says that there are some type of items, weapons I would assume, hidden in a false grave in the Restlands.
So, who wants to go with me to investigate this false grave. I assume that you all are not prepared to fight a bunch of mad necromancers, especially if the Professor did not feel prepared without these weapons. Then, you all can decide whether you wish to stay here with Kendra, or go to investigate what is going on inside this ruined prison.
Shol'a'saul tears herself away from the drow lady who is insisting on delving into the contents of the book. She turns to the Qadiran woman. "Perhaps I can travel with you, if that would be ok. I wonder..." she pauses for a few seconds before continuing, "if the crowd we encountered earlier is related to this. I would also wish to investigate this prison."
Ricven nods as everyone talks about going into the graveyard.
"I agree this seems like a wise course of action. The question is when would be a good time to go - during the day when it seems less suspicious or late at night when only the groundskeepers will be looking? I know personally I dislike the idea of leaving Mistress Kendra alone at night."
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Aeleanor: The lock seems very complex and defies your attempt to open it.
Ricven: The Restlands is run by the Temple of Pharasma. they don't really have a night watchman or groundskeeper as the town is pretty insular and doesn't really expect much in the way of grave robbers.
Everyone: Kendra is well protected at the house. Besides being stoutly constructed, she informs you that her father has had some .... unique ... defensive arrangements made for it because of his work.
"Perhaps late tonight would be a good time to slip unseen into the Restlands to look into this crypt." Turning to Kendra, he asks "Until that time, could I perhaps look through your father's books for references to this Whispering Way or Order of the Palatine Eye?"
Venedictos, who becomes less and less intoxicated as the evening progresses, starts by casually walking by as Aerys and others tackle the books. Then, he picks one up and leafs through it. Interested by what he read, he sits himself in a comfy chair to pour through it more intently. Then, he's up and fetching several other books, trying to find out more about this Whispering Way, quietly humming a chant to Shelyn for guidance throughout his study.
Knowledge - Religion:
Abe was disappointed he would not be able to join the others in investigating the grave in the Restlands, since he had already promised to stay with Kendra. But after hearing that she had no need of anyone to stay at the house because of it's "unique defenses", he was clear to go.
"Late tonight sounds good."
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Venedictos comes across some more information regarding the Whispering Way (his 22 with the +4 bonus from the professor's library):
4)Exact details on the society are difficult to discern, but chief among the Whispering Way’s goals are discovering formulae for creating liches and engineering the release of the Whispering Tyrant. Agents often travel to remote sites or areas plagued by notorious haunts or undead menaces to perform field research or even to capture unique monsters. Their symbol is a gagged skull, and those who learn too many of the Way’s secrets are often murdered, and their mouths mutilated to prevent their bodies from divulging secrets via speak with dead.
No luck Aeleanor sighs, packing her tools back up. I've never seen a lock like this, it must have a special key...maybe it's magical? She stands and walks around a bit, looking out the windows and exploring the house.
Perception:
When the group starts talking of exploration, she returns and chimes in. Yes, I will accompany you to the graveyard tonight, but I think we should leave some of the group behind with Miss Kendra.
If anyone wishes to remain behind to guard Miss Kendra, they are free to do so. I for one would prefer to visit the Restlands and see what is contained in this false tomb.
"Unbelievable!" Venedictos exclaims, slamming a book shut with a bit more enthusiasm than he obviously meant. He relates what he learned to the others. "Isn't there enough bad, ugly stuff in this world already without bringing back imprisoned ugly stuff? I mean, we have Zon-Kuthon, Urgathoa, and a bunch of other evil powers, do they really need to bring back another? And what do these evilcults think is going to happen if they succeed? They bring back the Tyrant, and he embraced them, saying, 'Thank you my friends for waking me up! Here is a whole bunch of my evil power that I amassed. I don't need it all. Have some!' How deluded can these sick-o's get?!"
Aerys nods. "I too would like to see what this crypt holds."
Shol'a'saul turns to the bald priest and focuses her gaze on him. "It is foolish for us to know the mind of one which we know nothing. We need to gain knowledge before we can dare hope to even begin to comprehend them."
She stands up, and turns to the others. "We need to retrace the path the Whispering Way to see what they seek. The prison is a good place to start."
Yes, you are right, Master Venedictos. Aeleanor says, leaning back in her chair. There is already so much suffering and injustice in this world...I cannot understand why some people seek to make it more so...I am ashamed to say that many of my people revere such...dark denizens. Some even worship demons out of their misguided thirst for power...many of them become very powerful, yes, but...nothing is worth the price of one's soul...
She is quiet for a moment, then turn to Shol'a'saul. I would rather investigate the graveyard first, my purple sister. From the Professor's writings, it seems that those we might find at the prison would be powerful and we would require more protection than just steel...The crypt may also contain information about how to protect ourselves. Let us investigate far-away places when we are better prepared.
Shol'a'saul stares at the drow and her gaze grows unfocused for a few seconds before she responds, "Yes...yes of course. Your course is a wise one...my sister."
The fighter cracks his knuckles loudly.
"Well, since we all seem in favor of this, and Kendra assures us she will be safe for now, I'd say let's go to the crypt tonight."
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You spend the afternoon and evening settling in (unless anyone was going to speak with the sheriff or go around town, let me know). Late that night you make your way to the Restlands. The false crypt mentioned in the professor’s journal is located in the northeast corner of the Restlands, near the junction of the paths known as the Eversleep and the Black Path. The crypt itself is a freestanding granite mausoleum, the roof of which is decorated with a pair of leering gargoyle statues. A single stone door with a rusty looking lock sits in the mausoleum’s south facade, but an examination of the lock reveals that the lock is broken, its clasp melted by acid and then put back into place so that to casual observation the lock appears intact.
Aeleanor approaches the crypt, reaching behind her back for her tool kit. Upon seeing the lock's condition, she steps back and reaches over her shoulder, drawing a long, curved blade of dark, ripple-patterned metal.
Looks like somebody's gotten here first... she whispers to the others. She steps up to the door and looks around before opening it and peering inside.
Aerys smiles at Aeleanor's observation. "Apparently the professor was also good at picking the occasional lock - I find myself liking him even more with each new revelation." He unhooks a hooded lantern that dangled from a strap on his backpack. "I'll light this up when we get inside - no point in making any groundskeeper's job any easier..."
Venedictos (who managed to snag a wee nip of brandy before heading out, to "calm his nerves") looks about the creepy cemetary nervously. His knuckles are standing out white in the moonlight on the haft of his glaive.
"I don't know. Some light might be nice. Like, I don't know, the sun. Why did we decide to break into the spooky graveyard at night?"
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Within, a flight of stone steps leads down into the cold earth to a large crypt lined with empty niches— apparently no dead are interred here. Also apparently, No one but professor Lorrimor has been into this chamber for several decades, and his tracks remain obvious in the dust and dirt of the floor. The tracks lead to a door which opens into the main chamber of the crypt.
"It would not be wise to have our activities observed by others, considering the Whispering Way may have spies in Ravengro."
Yes, I would prefer to have no light whatsoever. This is for our security. I realize that some of you are humans and have poor vision at night, but please try to adjust your eyes. I have heard of an orange root called a carrot, which is rumored to make humans eyes stronger. Please consider these. If you can proceed without light, do. If not, keep it small and only use it inside the crypt. We need someone to stand guard outside, as well, if any of you would prefer to remain where there is more light. Aeleanor then enters the crypt with a swirl of her cloak.
She halts the others with a hand raised. I will go first...follow in the footsteps, we do not know if there are security measures... she says, walking slowly and precisely across the room in the footsteps. She follows them to the door and tries to open it. If it is locked, she takes out her toolkit.
Perception: for traps
Disable Device:
Seeing the others apprehension, Ad'ifaah draws her scimitar and follows Aeleanor into the crypt.
Perception: <-- to see if there is anything about
Once they are inside the crypt, the fighter will draw his great sword and fall in a few paces behind the roguish elf. Then he starts to look around for dangers.
Shol'a'saul cautiously steps into the crypt, senses alert for any danger.
Aerys likewise follows through the open door. He squeezes his eyes shut tightly for a few seconds, then opens them to see if the moonlight leaking past him into the chamber is sufficient.
Aeleanor follows the trail to the sarcophagus and looks at it before trying to slide the lid to the side.
Perception:
Strength:
Venedictos considers staying outside on guard duty, but then has a few looks around the spooky surroundings, and opts to duck inside as well.
"We're sure there's nobody in here, right?" he asks nervously.
"Absolutely,"Aerys nods. "Unless they're the bodiless sort of undead, then they might step out of the walls at any second. Or else corporeal undead may flood into the room from the door Aeleanor is attempting to open..." He rubs his chin thoughtfully. "On closer examination, I guess we're not really sure at all..."
Abe follows into the room with the sarcophagus and slowly looks around.
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Abe: You detect no evil.
Aeleanor: The lid moves easily aside and instead of a body, you see bundles of items. There are several bundles of arrows (of different types, 13 potion vials, a couple of scroll tubes, and a thin darkwood case decorated with an image of a scarab with a single eye glaring from its back—the same design that appears on the cover of the Manual of the Order of the Palatine Eye among the books in the professor’s collection.
The half-elf glances into the crypt at the items inside.
"There's a whole lot of stuff in here. Anyone excel with a bow?"
Ricven will them move out of the way so those with more esoteric knowledge can take a look. He'll keep an eye out just in case there is something down here as he examines the crypt in detail. He'll make a point of looking at the wall beside C10.
I am quite good with a bow, but I do not have one...I...couldn't bring mine with me when I...left. Aeleanor says cryptically, lifting the arrows out and examining them more closely.
Perception:
Corey, who had been quiet for the entire journey over, steps up now to the opened sarcophagus next to Aeleanor. "I am pretty good with a bow myself," the elf begins, not quite looking at Aeleanor "but you're probably better.." Corey looks over the items, squinting in the darkness despite having darkvision.
Perception
I am watching the back of the party to make sure that nobody attacks from behind.
Position - H5
Perception:
Shol'a'saul stands on the stairs, watching all around her.
Venedictos is back with Ad'ifaah - H6.
Perception:
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As everyone is looking around, Ricven sees a giant centipede come out of the crack he was examining. Aeleanor also notices one coming out by her (A-4). Abernathus is also not caught unawares and sees one coming out by Corey (A-7). Somehow, despite being up the stairs, Venedictos notices the two coming out of the wall by Aeleanor and Corey. There is also one more coming out of the wall at D-1.
Surprise round:
Corey (22): no action, surprised
Aeleanor (21):
Abernathus (20):
Ricven (15):
Shol'a'saul (14): no action, suprised
Centipedes (13):
Venedictos (10):
Ad'ifaah (9): no action, surprised
Aerts (6): no action, surprised
Everyone the Professor invited seems to have some speciality. I guess I need to learn something if I'm going to help out. So, what do I see about these dungeon walls?
Ricven sees a giant centipede start to come in through the wall.
Lesson one - walls contain monstrous bugs.
"We've got incoming!" the fighter yells as he swings his greatsword at the creature in front of him.