"Hmmm... Ritual suicide." the gnome says to herself.
"So... what. The goblins took something that belonged to these, now undead beings? They reclaimed it," the gnome speaks aloud as she speculates.
"Desna, grant us your luck!" Aloria calls. "If you wish some more luck, let me know just before you attack.
Current AC: 21 (19 Flat-footed / 13 Touch)
Current HP: 18 / 18 remaining
Current Weapon in Hand: morningstar +2 (1d6/x2) and shield
Spells (0-level, DC 13, at will) Create Water, Detect Magic, Spark, Guidance;
(1st level, DC 14) Bless©, bless©, bless, longstrider(d)
(2nd level, DC 15) aid(d), bull's strength, grace.
Channel Energy (2d6, DC 14) 5 of 6 uses remaining
Bit of Luck (Sp) 6 of 6 uses remaining (Any time the target rolls a d20, he may roll twice and take the more favorable result) (6/day)
Agile Feet (Su) 6 of 6 uses remaining (ignore all difficult terrain for 1 round) (6/day)
It would seem that way. Hideo states in a no nonsense manner. Ameiko wasn't kidding when she said this stuff was dangerous. Hideo thinks while shaking his head. It was just supposed to be some goblins, now its undead?! Steeling himself, Hideo gives a nod to Aloria. I'll take any blessings I can get. The young man mutters to the cleric as he moves up towards the impaled skeleton.
Zeema, seeing the undead in the last room, uses her spirit sense along her way.
"That... That thing is definitely undead. I like Gorag's plan, and can offer some support as well."
Zeema draws a few hairs and a pinch of what appears to be dried dung from her satchel. The objects disappear while she recites an incantation in Druidic, and she touches Gorag with her other hand (that hasn't touched the dung). Gorag instantly feels far stronger than originally.
As you slowly advance, weapon ready in hand, the skeleton suddendly moves its head, eyesockets burning with otherwordly flames. It starts to speak up in Tian "I failed to protect my liege, I failed to protect my men, but I wont fail thrice. Your end draws near, thiefs." While it speaks, shadowy flesh forms around the dry bones and after only the blink of an eye you stand before the shadowy, waving, but all too corporal image of a grizzled old soldier, sword still lodged deep in his now once again filled bowel.
Cerana's hands draw several threads between her fingers. She starts to make weaving motions with her hands very quickly until the image of a spider web is visibly seen. She swings her hands back and lances the weblike apparition towards the Samurai casting a web spell. Thus trying to make it so the Samurai becomes an easy target for her friends. Or at the very least slow him down enough that the others can preemptively attack him. She then moves away to make sure she is not the first in line to get attacked.
Cerana shoots the creature with her crossbow. She then moves away to make sure she is not the first in line to get attacked.
The soldier doesn't seem very concerned about the webbing around him, slowly stepping out if it without getting entangled and drawing the sword out of his intestines with a slight moan. He turns towards Hideo "You dare display a blade of Amatatsu making? You'll go first oni slave!"
With his last word he brings his blade down on the young man and gives him an ugly cut on his right arm.
Aloria light touches Gorag as she says, "Desna grant you a tad of luck..."
Current AC: 21 (19 Flat-footed / 13 Touch)
Current HP: 18 / 18 remaining
Current Weapon in Hand: morningstar +2 (1d6/x2) and shield
Spells (0-level, DC 13, at will) Create Water, Detect Magic, Spark, Guidance;
(1st level, DC 14) Bless©, bless©, bless, longstrider(d)
(2nd level, DC 15) aid(d), bull's strength, grace.
Channel Energy (2d6, DC 14) 5 of 6 uses remaining
Bit of Luck (Sp) 5 of 6 uses remaining (Any time the target rolls a d20, he may roll twice and take the more favorable result)
Agile Feet (Su) 6 of 6 uses remaining (ignore all difficult terrain for 1 round)
Nicat freezes for a moment as the frightful creature rears up and begins to speak. He then cocks his head slightly and says "Do any of you hear...hoofbeats? It sounds like a horse is coming."
The spectral samurai then strikes at Hideo and Nicat responds, "Oh no you don't!" and swings his swords at the creature.
His strikes both miss as the samurai lunges forward, and Nicat says "Hideo, he seems focused on you. Try to back into the room so we can surround him!"
Hooves? I don't hear any...
As the skeleton comes to life, however, Zeema takes action. She once again doubles her size and reach, reaching over Gorag and Hideo to deliver a powerful strike with her scythe.
Sunny shifts her position slightly, the better to get into a flanking spot on the undead critter.
And then turns to look for the weird sound she seems to hear...
Swish, swish...(-_-)
The soldier doesn't seem very concerned about the webbing around him, slowly stepping out if it without getting entangled and drawing the sword out of his intestines with a slight moan. He turns towards Hideo "You dare display a blade of Amatatsu making? You'll go first oni slave!" With his last word he brings his blade down on the young man and gives him an ugly cut on his right arm.
Roaring in pain and blood running down in arm. Hideo blinks in shock [i]How did he know about my fathers blade.[/b] The man thinks to himself as time seems to slow down for a heart beat. Behind him Hideo sees Zeema double in size, her head almost scraping the roof of the cavern and Nicat and Sunny, draw their blades and attack the undead creature. Shaking his head times seems to return to its normal speed, and Hideo can hear the thundering of his heartbeats and feel the raw pain from the wound on his arm.
Focusing on the pain, Hideo concentrates as he has practiced over months and months during the lonely times on caravan trips and in the Forrest with Shalelu. Grabbing his blade firmly with one hand, but keeping the grip loose on his fingers, he whips it out of the scabbard, his eyes narrow on the skeletal warrior and he slices the blade towards the creature.
Gorag takes a step to the side of the monster and then falls upon it with all he has got, only managing to sink his teeth into shadowy flesh.
While you are locked in grizzly combat, rolling clouds of fog suddenly fill the tunnel you came through. Now loud enough for everyone to hear, the sound of hooves resonate through the cave.
Low is good:
Nicat sees the macabre horror strike Hideo and takes advantage of its movement to get alongside it. Now, with the creature focused on fighting his friend, Nicat can strike more precisely, hoping to find a weak spot and destroy the skeleton before it kills Hideo. Unfortunately, his first attack crashes into the creature's armor, and his second swings wildly in the rolling fog, missing completely.
Round 2 Actions
Aloria looks to Nicat, "You know... you are right."
The gnome touches Hideo lightly, "And a bit of Our Lady's Luck for you as well!"
She then steps back 5ft to allow the others to move as they need to, to get into better positions.
Current AC: 21 (19 Flat-footed / 13 Touch)
Current HP: 18 / 18 remaining
Current Weapon in Hand: morningstar +2 (1d6/x2) and shield
Spells (0-level, DC 13, at will) Create Water, Detect Magic, Spark, Guidance;
(1st level, DC 14) Bless©, bless©, bless, longstrider(d)
(2nd level, DC 15) aid(d), bull's strength, grace.
Channel Energy (2d6, DC 14) 5 of 6 uses remaining
Bit of Luck (Sp) 4 of 6 uses remaining (Any time the target rolls a d20, he may roll twice and take the more favorable result)
Agile Feet (Su) 6 of 6 uses remaining (ignore all difficult terrain for 1 round)
Cerana in her safe position starts to summon a monster to aid her friends.
Sunny steps in as her sword twirls.
Seeing the unnatural fog and now hearing the hoof-falls of horses, Zeema is not so happy with her current situation.
"Damn, this is getting creepy... Some extra help might be in order...
Zeema shrinks back to her normal size, and begins reciting an incantation.
Gorag now tries to flank the skeleton samurai.
The ghostly soldier manages to place another 3 swift cuts on Hideo before Gorags violent attacks manage to tear down his shadowy flesh, which just disipates. Only moments later Sunnys sword comes crashing down on the now exposed skeleton, causing it to collaps.
As it falls the sound of hooves also suddendly vanishes and the cave lies silent.
After making sure that no more enemies lurk about you take a look at the treasure.
While most of the things scattered around are rotten, worthless or both, a key the skeleton wears around its neck opens up the chest.
Inside you find various riches:
-five potions "Cure Moderate Wounds"
-two potions "Cure Critical Wounds"
-three potions "Lesser Restoration"
-a magical ring of climbing
-a magical wand showing the Tian rune for "Servant" (20 charges)
-a masterwork chain shirt
-a masterwork cold iron wakizashi
-1000 gold
-some gems and jewelry worth around 600 gold
And on the skeleton:
-Amulet of Natural Armor +1
The skeleton also wielded a quite beautiful weapon, etche with a images of seven shrikes perched on a coiling branch that runs the length of the blade. Its broken pommel shows the runes 低语 伯劳科, Whispering Shrike.
+1 Wakizashi of Speed. Can once per day be used to cast "shield other" on any creature touched by the blade (CL 5, standart action, Range:Touch).
The broken pommel imposes a -2 penalty on Attack Rolls until repaired.
"Whoops, nevermind."
Zeema stops summoning as the skeleton falls. Upon looking through the riches, she realizes that there is much that she could use, and much that she can't. The strange Tian weapons and the chain shirt hold little allure, much like the potions. She could heal herself later and hadn't taken any hindering damage.
The ring of climbing is intriguing, but not all that useful in her eyes, but the gold and the amulet are of far more interest. She almost calls out to claim them when she feels her new cloak billow and touch her heels. She had forgotten it, this gift from her new friends. She instead stays silent, fearing that any new claims to treasure would appear greedy.
"Umm... Hideo? What's that in the hilt of that sword?
Sunny actually stares at her own sword in seeming surprise for a few moments. As if she's unsure as to where the sparkly light show which danced along its blade came from.
Then, as every one begins to look closer at the fallen and now inert dead thing she grins.
"Ooooh! Shiney!" And skips forwards to help examine all teh 'fat loots'. (^_^)
Aloria looks to the Samuri, "Hold still please..." She then calls to her goddess, "Desna's will, heal this warrior's wounds." She then places a soft glowing hand on Hideo near his viscous wound and the energy soothes the hurt and begins to close cut.
Current AC: 21 (19 Flat-footed / 13 Touch)
Current HP: 18 / 18 remaining
Current Weapon in Hand: morningstar +2 (1d6/x2) and shield
Spells (0-level, DC 13, at will) Create Water, Detect Magic, Spark, Guidance;
(1st level, DC 14) Bless©, bless©, bless, longstrider(d)
(2nd level, DC 15) aid(d), bull's strength, grace©.
Channel Energy (2d6, DC 14) 5 of 6 uses remaining
Bit of Luck (Sp) 4 of 6 uses remaining (Any time the target rolls a d20, he may roll twice and take the more favorable result)
Agile Feet (Su) 6 of 6 uses remaining (ignore all difficult terrain for 1 round)
After searching through the area Cerana breaths a sigh of relief.
Well that's enough surprises for one day.
At Zeema's inquiry Cerana gets a bit curious. "Something in the hilt of the sword? Let's have a look see." Cerana walks up to the sword and opens it, she's not really interested in the sword so she doesn't take the sword of anyone who might be holding it.
"Hmmm..." She ponders to herself.
Well this has made the whole trip worth it, a little bit of the past.
"Fancy that..." Cerana reads out a summary of the page. "Signed by a Rokuro Kaijitsu. Mmm..Hideo, would you like to keep hold of this? Considering I think this skeleton here is your ancestor. I'm starting to think goblins activity is a little small compared to this discovery."
As Aloria heals Hideo, Nicat picks up the blade that fell from the skeleton's grasp as it died, thinking to himself I guess it died...though it was already dead. Weird stuff. What's important is it's not trying to kill Hideo any more.
Then aloud he adds, "Dance of Desna! This is a beautiful weapon. Look at the designs all along the blade!"
He swings it once or twice experimentally and says "It swings like lightning - so fast! Though there seems to be something wrong with the pommel - old Boney here must have broken it."
Then, as Cerana approaches and asks about something hidden somehow in the sword, Nicat begins to turn it so she can look at the hilt. As he does so, he finds he is holding the hilt pointing away from himself, the blade aimed right at his belly, as if he plans to go the way of the undead samurai they have just fought. His face whitens a bit and he quickly shifts the blade, pointing it straight down so that Cerana can inspect it, and saying "Even with my luck, I don't think that's a good idea."
Nicat listens to Cerana's explanation of the letter she has found and says, "Kaijitsu? As in Hideo's family? How can that be? I know they've got quite a history, but how did that letter end up hidden in the sword of that monster that tried to kil us?"
"Yes indeed, though I suspect this sword is from the Kaijitsu family or at least someone allied with them. The letter speaks of Tsatamu to keep the letter from one of the Kaijitsu's. So I suspect this 'monster' is actually a loyal servant to Hideo's family. I think the more pressing concern though is the fact that the letter talks of enemies after the Kaijitsu family, this means there might be people hunting Hideo and his sister." Cerana bites her lip.
While not the best news, I do feel happy that Sandpoint might be more lively soon. Heh, Koya you were right this will be fun, though likely not for the reason you thought.
Cerana stretches a bit and starts to consider their options.
"Regardless of that document at the moment, should we return to town to discuss what we do next or shall we do something else? I vote for town at the moment though I know some of you are still concerned about the goblins." Cerana has a think if it was best to bring the goblins up again. Their involvement in this only seems coincidental and killing them will likely do little.
Hands shaking at the mention of his family name Hideo holds up the tattered and age-worn note up to the light. Rokuro.. that.. that was my grandfathers name. Hideo begins, eyes aflame as he reads over the note. My father Lonjiku spoke of him once.. Father.. well after what happened with Atsuii he drank a lot. He only mentioned Rokuro once. Eyes looking far into the shadows. Hideo shrugs in though. Ameiko or Tsuto never spoke of why father left Minkai as a child. To be honest, I'm not sure they even knew. All of this is deeply troubling however. Someone was after my family, and if this letter is true, then something from my families heritage is hidden under the old Brinewall ruins. I think.. we need to go show this to Ameiko. Carefully rolling up the rice paper scroll, Hideo delicately slips it back into the ivory tube before stowing it into his belt pouch.
Eyes running over the remaining spoils recovered from within the chest Hideo watches as Nicat swings the Wakizashi around with an unbelievable speed. All of this may have once belonged to my family, but without all of you I doubt I would have ever found it. Take what you will. The young samurai states while reaching down and grasping out of the pile a beautiful red and gold enameled amulet, depicting a cherry blossoms falling in the wind. Picking it up he feels the weight of it, and giving a small smile places it around his neck. I guess there's a lot that father never told us. Hideo thinks to himself. After everything that's happened in my family, it's nice to catch a break for once.
Nicat looks down at the short, slender blade in his hand, entranced by the fine etching and its startling speed, then up at his friend, saying "Hideo, are you sure? Even damaged as it is, this is a magic weapon! It must be very valuable."
Seeing the certainty in Hideo's eyes as he hears the question, Nicat says "Thank you. I'll be sure to use it to defend my friends - you, Sandru, all of us here. And I think you're right, we should take that scroll to your sister, see if she can make any sense of it."
Nicat looks around the cavern, as his friends rummage through the faded treasures and turn up a few things of real value. Then he says "So, a skeleton samurai coming to life and attacking us, and carrying this letter about the Kaijitsu's, that's all pretty strange. But there's something I really don't understand. Does anyone have any idea what those sounds of hoofbeats we heard were, when the skeleton attacked us? When he died, they just stopped."
Cerana tries to answer Nicat's query "I'm not sure, though it could easily be that there was a battle with horses nearby to this place. I have heard of spirits strong enough that bring visions or possibly recreations of the time they were killed. Perhaps that was the sound of the horses attacking Brinewall castle?"
Cerana tries to think of any time that there might have been a battle or struggle nearby here or Brinewall castle.
@Cerana You have no idea.
Suny helps people gather things. Then calmly and respectfully puts the downed skeletal warrior back into a position of 'rest'.
"Poor todger. Ta end up undead in'a hole..." She sighs quietly. Then stands and skips over to Hiro, giving him a hug,
"So! We's got our selfs a mystery!" She exclaims, sounding slightly excited.
"Workin' out who this feller were an' that connection with that place up North, hey?"? (^_^)
As the gnome helps gather coins and gems and the like into various backpacks she asks, "So... where too now? Town? Or deal with the goblins? And if we are dealing with the goblins, how?"
"Um....there were also tha' Witch? Are we gon'a see about them as well? I thought we'd said tha' Gobbies weren't a threat no more?" Sunny replies/asks.
Putting a hand on Nicat's shoulder Hideo gives a decisive nod. I know you will buddy. He states while he listens to the discussion of what to do next.
You know.. before the cave, I would have suggested we go back and deal with the goblins. But if my sister is in danger she needs to know about that. The camp was devastated, and Gorag scared the hell out of them.. If they act up, we can always go back.
Nicat lays a friendly hand on Hideo's as he says "Thank you for saying so."
Taking a few steps back the way they came, Nicat then says "I think you and Sunny are right. The goblins aren't a threat at this point, and we need to get word back to Ameiko, and see if we can figure out more about what that letter means."
Looking back over his shoulder where the samurai skeleton first greeted them, he adds "Well, I'm sorry we won't get to understand out about the hoofbeats - but who knows what would have happened if they got any closer and whatever it was actually arrived? Probably best this way, huh?"
Nicat heads out of the samurai's cavern, holding his two new wakizashis in his hands, one dull, dark iron, the other shimmering silver covered with etchings of shrikes. He looks at the etchings closely and asks the group "Aren't shrikes the little hunting birds that stick their prey - usually alive - on a thorn so they can eat it bit by bit? Kind of an interesting emblem to put on a blade, eh? Ah well, I won't use it for such cruelty. In fact, I'll have a little fun with it!"
At this, Nicat begins to juggle the blades as he walks along. But the uneven floor of the cavern, or Desna deciding this is not a form of play to encourage, causes him to nearly drop them. He brings his hands together quickly to catch the weapons, their blades clanging harshly together in the echoing cave, and then manages to get a firm hand on each one and slide them back into their sheaths on his back.
"Guess I'll have to practice that a bit..." he mutters to himself.
Aloria nods, "Alrighty then. Just being sure of our course of action is all." She winks at Sunny.
"Just a few thoughts... where did all of this, and this servant or whatever of Hideo's family come from exactly? If a large bunch of folk from Tein came through Sandpoint, it would be talk of the town and Amekeo and others would know about it. Since no one knows...and they are all dead, and somehow become walking dead. It leaves one to wonder."
Some of you might know a bit more:
After sorting through everything you decide to first return to Ameiko and show her the letter.
After a short scolding of Hideo for bringing himself into danger again ("You should have gotten me or the sheriff once you heard of undead!") she reads it and seems quite fascinated.
"This is most interesting. Father and I never realy got along, but I always wondered what exactly happened to our grandparents. And now this letter of my grandfather arrives decades late, revealing his last, undelivered words to father! And speaking of some hidden heritage to boot!"
On the way back to town Sunny is animate in talking about the fight and who did what and how. She skips and bounces around the group, arms swinging wide as she physically describes things as much as talks about them.
At Aloria's words, Sunny slows but briefly.
Sunny listens intently at Ameiko's words...though she does blush and squirm with obvious embarrassment when the dangers the group faced are pointed out.
"Oopsie..."
Eventually Sunny scampers off to begin spreading her share of 'Teh shinys' about the rest of the town. (^_^)
Cerana ponders to herself about the conversation.
Hmmm, interesting, interesting. Hands on experience soon to be had!
So Ameiko what would you like to do about this? You say that you didn't want to adventure much anymore but I'm sure this is better than fighting against goblins, no? Cerana is getting oddly excited, the life in the manor must have been more boring that she original thought.
"Hmm, i could go on one last trip, settling the ghost of the past."She gets quite silent for some time before announcing "Yes, I'll build an expedition to Brinewall. It'll take a few days to prepare everything, but then it's: Whoever want to come, comes!"
Sunny listens intently at the evening gathering where every one talks about what they've discovered in their adventure in the swamp.
She listens intently to Ameiko's words, her large blue eyes seeming to grow even larger as Ameiko speaks of her ideas and plans.
At Ameiko's last words/challenge, Sunny squeals with delight and throws herself at her friend.
(^_^)
"Aye! O'course I be wantin' ta come! T'will be grand!" She skips, bounces and hugs Ameiko, then caroms off and randomly hugs, tussles the others.
You know, that I owe my live to your family. If I can help you to clear the fog that covers your family's past, it will be an honor for me to accompany you during this journey.
Give me some time to check my stock. I'm sure that I have some substances which will aid us on the road.
Gorag will put together a small pouch of substances for everyone who wants one.
- 1x acid (3.33 GP; 1.33 GP) (+1 damage for Acid Splash (F), +1 round damage for Acid Splash (M), Grease deals 1 point of damage per round (M))
- 1x air crystal (16.66 GP)
- 1x alchemical grease (1.66 GP; 1 lb) (+1 Ref DC for Grease (M))
- 1x alchemical solvent (6.66 GP; 0.5 lb)
- 1x alchemist's fire (6.66 GP; 1 lb)
- 1x alkali flask (5 GP; 1 lb)
- 1x antiplague (16.66 GP)
- 1x antitoxin (16.66 GP)
- 1x bladeguard (13.33 GP)
- 1x holy water (25 GP; 1 lb)
- 1x heatstone (6.66 GP; 1 lb)
- 1x itching powder (20 GP; 2 lb)
- 2x Powder (0.02 GP; 1 lb)
- 1x Smokestick (6.66 GP; 0.5 lb) (Smoke instead of mist with obscuring mist (M))
- 1x sunrod (0.66 GP; 1 lb)
- 1x smelling salts (8.33 GP)
- 1x tanglefoot bag (16.5 GP; 4 lb) (+1 DC for Web (M))
- 3x tindertwig (1 GP)
- 1x troll styptic (33.33 GP)
- 1x vermin repellent (1.66 GP)
Total: 213.0 GM; 15 lbs
I have here a bag of alchemical substances for several occassions. When you want one, I'll charge you only my material costs. Cerana, some of them could strenghten your spells.
Nicat looks around the group excitedly and says ”Wow, of course I’ll join the expedition! The things we’ll see! And to get to unravel this mystery, that sounds amazing. How far is it to Brinewall? I guess I’d better get some things together. And tell my folks!”