Not particularly fond of disturbing bones, Anya climbsatop the sarcophagus.
Moving into the new chamber, Newt grabs the new source of light as he passes it. He then makes his way over to the greatsword to look it over in greater detail.
Mischa moves into the cavern and begins to check over the two bone piles and the sarcophagus. The two bone piles seem simple enough, the bones looking to be marked by cuts and injuries at some point as if whoever the bones belonged to they had died in battle before being piled here. The glaive and greatsword that was stuck in the middle of each looked to be plain normal weapons and still serviceable. They bore no markings of magical runes and were definitely not masterwork quality. The stone sarcophagus was unadorned and covered with a heavy lid. Mischa saw no signs of traps or tripwires while inspecting it.
Anya, not wanting to disturb the bone pyres climbed on top of the sarcophagus and found that it held her weight easily enough. Once to the other side she began inspecting the dwarven skeleton. looking at the ornate breastplate with a stylized griffin insignia that it wore. The breastplate bore no magical runes but it definitely was masterwork quality and that meant that it could possibly hold some type of magical energies. Her mentor had always told her it had to be masterwork quality if you were going to enchant it. The drawven waraxe discarded nearby was serviceable and looked to be of standard quality, definitely not masterwork. Studying the body and the way it was positioned it looked like it had been removed from the sarcophagus and discarded here for some reason.
Newt moved into the room and picked up the lit stone and discarded the old stone, he moved over to the bone pyre with the greatsword to study it in more detail. He summed up his findings pretty quickly without removing the greatsword from its bone pile. It was a standard quality medium greatsword, the immense two-handed sword was about 5 feet in length. no distinguishing marks or features and would bring a fair market price of about 25 gold pieces and it weighed 4 pounds.
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Current Location: The Back Door: Tomb Time: 12:21 pm
Casimir pulls Bowen with him not wanting to be left behind.
Bowen follows along with Casimir, and into the room.
"What do you make of all this?" - the man questions - "I don't recognize that symbol" - he adds looking at the dwarven skeleton from afar - "What is it..? A griffin?"
Regaining the top of the sarcophagus, Let's leave well enough alone? For now...
Yes, seems like grave robbers have already been here. And it didn't end well for them
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Current Location: The Back Door: Tomb Time: 12:22 pm
Bec shivers, Let's get out of here, I'd rather not die today.
EDIT: Knew it!!
"Dead folk are dead" - Bowen interjects - "And I could maybe fit into that breastplate... It's not as if he is using it or something... - he shrugs.
Anya looked from the young man to the dead warrior and back again.
Will you use it for Good and against Evil, Bowen?
The griffin is a noble creature and I imagine anyone who dared wear the... insignia should be just as noble.
"I don't know Anya. I guess so. Who would be the judge of that?" - in all honesty Bowen had never pondered such matters - "You know why I am here - is that the 'Good'? Not sure if the ogre would agree"
He seems to hesitate for a few moments - "I don't know, I was just looking at a set of armour that is better than mine - you don't think I should put it on? Truth is I don't even know if it fits me"
I was just asking, you... I'm no expert. Just sharing thoughts.
Anya returns to the ancient fallen warrior. Bending down, she uses her fingers and brushes some dust off the griffin insignia.
"I know Anya" - Bowen offers apologetically with a smile - "I am just a herder's son also, and not much of an expert - just trying to put what I know to good use - can't say I know much about griffin, or why their image would be on an armor, but if it helps us in getting rid of the threat to Dundraville, then I guess squeezing myself into it would be a 'Good' use, right?"
Best start stripping and getting ready to uphold some ideals. Or the griffin might not like it.
Do we have time for this... now?
I would advise against this. I feel we should track the ogre down in this lair and we are not well equipped to deal with any possible undead. Misch retreats to the back of the room and knocks an arrow in case her warning is not heeded.
As fascinating as the items are, Newt is a little creeped out by all this. He moves over to Mischa.
"Me too! Don't play with the scary stuff just now. Let's go get the ogre."
"I'm not pushing to do this now" - Bowen smiles, ever pragmatic - "Was just asking. Lets forget about it and stay on course" - he adds, motioning for the exit from the room.
Looking at the ancient dwarf reverently one last time, Anya moves away to join the others.
I think that settles it. Mischa says relieved. Let us move on. Newt if you would lead the way.
Bec sighs in relief, Let's get out of here, this place reeks of trouble.
The group prepares to move forward.
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Current Location: The Back Door: Tomb Time: 12:22 pm
Come'on, Newt... Let's check things out.. She moves out of the room.
Anya moves back out into the passage with Bec as she waits for Newt. The stench of both Bowen, Lord Casimir and Bec is overwhelming as she passes.
Looking toward the large cave ahead she continues to see the reddish orange lights dancing around here and there but can not make out what is causing the anomaly.
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Current Location: The Back Door: Tomb Time: 12:22 pm
Moving ahead to continue scouting, Newt passes Anya to see what is up there.
The smell of the skunk spray is overwhelming and is very distracting to Newt, so he doesn't pay as close attention as he normally does.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Mischa follows about 30 feet behind Newt
This chamber is immense, at least 30 feet by 50 feet with a vaulted ceiling. The floor is covered with debris and six massive stalagmites dot the cavern. To the north is a creamy white flowstone
formation shaped like a waterfall frozen in time, situated above a small pool of water.
Several two-foot-long beetles with luminescent heads meander about the chamber, throwing dim illumination to the far reaches of the chamber.
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Current Location: The Back Door: Tomb Time: 12:23 pm
"Looks like some giant beetles roaming about. I don't know if they are hostile or not." Newt calls back.
"Never heard of giant beetles" - Bowen pipes in - "But if they are anything like beasts I could try to make sure they are calm - my father always said I had a way with beasts"
Casimir sniffs, Beasts or bugs? Never heard of someone able to herd beetles. Maybe we should just be rid of the awful things from a distance.
Casimir points to his finely crafted bow.
Concentrate your fire then, and fall back... We ca lead them back to where we can use better positioning. All theory of course.
Anya, retreats out of the warriors way.
If we can calm them that would be best. Mischa says. If that fails we fight. Know that they are immune to mind affecting effects so whatever you try may not work Bowen. If it does not then fall back and we shall try to defeat them from range.
Anya moves back down the passage to the edge of the bright torch light to clear the way for any aggresive action the men had on their mind.
Anya trys to recall what she knows about vermin, tshe quickly recited the lesson in her mind.
Vermin were mindless with vertially no intellegence which made them immune to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms). They usually had darkvision. Proficient with its natural weapons only. Proficient with no armor. Vermin breathe, eat, and sleep.
Meanwhile the light that was now beaming through the cave from newts stone seemed to get the beetle's attention as they move toward the group to investigate. Still not showing any agrresive action. More curious acting than anything. As if they were searching for something.
Then with a sudden realization the group realized what it was. FOOD! and the beetle's smelled it as they took an aggressive posture and began clicking their mandables together.
Everyone is up.... Good Luck!
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Current Location: The Back Door: Fire Beetle Nest Time: 12:23 pm
Remember to concentrate your fire as one down is more important than two wounded. Use the tunnel as a bottleneck if you have it.
That's just smarts.
Casimir resists the urge to sigh but thinks, So much for surprising them. We need to discuss tactics after this.
Newt, draw them back to us where we can try to overwhelm them!
Casimir will delay, holding his shield and sword out in front of him to keep the beetles at bay.
Mischa backs up until she's standing next to, but in front of, Anya and readies an arrow to fire at the first beetle to come in range of her clear shot down the corridor. It should hit before the beetles come into melee range.
Bec pulls out a knife and waits nervously for the beetles to approach as he moves up behind Casimir and Newt. Readying an action to throw the dagger
Anya waits at her position trying to give the best advice she can for dealing with the vermin.
Mischa backs up until she's standing next to, but in front of, Anya and readies an arrow to fire at the first beetle to come in range of her clear shot down the corridor.
Bec pulls out a knife and waits nervously for the beetles to approach as he stands behind Casimir. Readying an action to throw the dagger
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Current Location: The Back Door: Fire Beetle Nest Time: 12:23 pm
Bowen steps just next to the door treshold while pulling out his bow, and shoots an arrow at the beetle in sight.
Newt moves back next to Bowen and Bec.
Once there he will take a shot at the beetle in the middle with his crossbow.
Bowen steps just next to the door threshold while pulling out his bow, and shoots an arrow at the beetle in sight. He had to place the shot a little off to make sure he didn't shoot Newt in the process and it caused the arrow to sail over the beetle and it skidded across the cave floor. At least it did not break and he would be able to recover it later.
Newt backs up next to Bowen, Bec and Casimir, the smell was almost overpowering as he aimed his crossbow at the middle beetle. Pulling the trigger the bolt sailed true and hit the beetle right in the eye as it stopped moving.
As the first of the beetles advanced on Newts position and came into range Bec threw his dagger at the thing. But the dagger bounced off the beetle's hard carapace.
Mischa likewise fired off an arrow as he continued toward Newt's position, her arrow grazed the creature but it kept advancing.
As the beetle closed Casimir took a swing at it with his longsword, and like the trained swordsman that he was Casimir split the beetle in to before it had a chance to bite anyone.
The final beetle approached unstopped and once it reached close enough it used its powerful mandibles and bites at Newt, but the gnome darted out of the way just in time as the mandibles just snapped in the air.
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Current Location: The Back Door: Fire Beetle Nest Time: 12:23 pm
I hate bugs...just remember, blade up in a classic Vertian Manuever, now use more wrist in the strike this time!
Longsword attack damage
As he strikes Casimir steps back opening a space for Bec. Now Bec, squash that thing!
These things look creepy... Ewww! Anya catches glimpses of the action from far back in the line.