Errik casts light on a coin and glances around the chamber before looking to his companions. " Did either of you get hit? " he asks as he wanders over to the nearest corpse and pokes the blubbery skin with his boot. " Ugothols, I think? " he says to no one in particular.
You search the tomb you find nothing new .. no hidden dangers. Then you notice a curious thing. Along the perimeter of the black pools of the creatures' innards, lines of liquid seem to disappear under the floor or rather like the lines never got wet .. As you bring the light closer it looks like an illusion of the floor covers the actual floor -- hiding engraved writing -- which is now somewhat visible as the liquid fills the carved out letters, seeping underneath the illusion.
"Knowing" it is not real does not help to see through it as you are used to.. touching an area of the stone floor you feel a slight resistance as your finger passes through it along the grooves of the hidden writing.
phantasmal .. partially real
I've been hurt a little, but it's little more than a bruise.Senthiri says, looking himself over.
As Errik finds the stone, Senthiri walks over and begins examining it as well. He presses his fingers into the stone and wonders.
Hmm. . . phantasmal. I've still got this one that that thing gave us. Senthiri holds up the scroll of Dispel Magic and points in the direction of what used to be a gnome. But that one is still designed to target the user. I don't think there's any way around that . . .
No way around it. It is essentially a cursed scroll.
" Hmm a cursed scroll? Let's not chance that unless we have to. Say Braxton could I borrow that shovel? "
Taking the shovel Errik attempts to spread the black ink like blood out further trying to make out the inscription in the floor.
After 20 minutes of inspecting you hear a "Hello?" from up the steps .. "Foreman Yeats? ... you in there? Is the warden coming? Hello?"
After the fight Braxton leans againist the wall breathing hard, and debating gathering his shovel and then smiles as Errik asks to use it. "No problem bub, and I'll even wave the rental fee." He chuckles softly and goes silent when he hears the voice. He looks towards his friends to see what they want to do.
Senthiri stops. He looks around and sees the deflated skins and all the blood around about. He looks at his companions and speaks quielty, Never thought I'd say this, but the only thing I can think of is the truth at this point. It's too crazy to not be true. We'll just have to keep some of it to ourselves. He then raises his eyebrows in question to the others, asking if they agreed.
"Agreed buddy, but I would suggest one of you do that bit of talking to begin with since most don't you know with me. I will chime in if needed." He dusts off his coat, and keeps his crowbar out.
I'll do it. Senthiri says with a sigh. Senthiri begins the long walk up the stairs. His mind races as he tries to figure out where to start.
The man starts to descend the steps as Senthiri walks up. He is wearing a logger's uniform. You've seen each other around before, but don't know him."Hey what you doin down here? .. I think the foreman went to get the warden." He looks down at the steps between Senthiri and himself. "What in the -"
It turns out the foreman was not the foreman. He and another one turned into some monsters and attacked us. Senthiri points quickly to the two deflated skins We think one of them had been masquerading as Fawni at some point. After that, well Errik found this Senthiri waves his hand towards the markings on the floor, and got us sidetracked while he studies it. You know how those knowledgeable types are. Senthiri gives the worker a knowing wink.
Errik half listens to Senthiri talking to the logger on the stairs as he bends over his grisly work muttering and trying to decipher the obscured spell near the foot of the stairs is whilst pondering the meaning of the starburst on the left means.
Kn Arcana:
Spellcraft:
For the star like carving near the word verify:
Kn local:
Kn History:
You can't make out every word. Your workaround of the phantasm is not as effective with the smaller letters. You can decipher enough to determine the spell is a ward. Most of it you can figure out through context of what you can read. However, there is something in the wording.. how the spell seeks its own target, that does not immediately make sense to you enough to just plug in the right word (if you were to attempt to scibe the spell)
---
The shape of the depression is familiar .. the first thing that you picture clearly when trying to picture what you are trying to make out by touch -- is the amulet of the black sun.
The logger looks horrified .. "Ghastly! .. I .. I .. " He then sees Errik "I'm sure you have things handled here .. I'll go check on the warden .. Gods!" He hurries back toward the village trying not to retch.
That's a good idea. Let 'im know what's happened.
Braxton moves over to Errik and leans in to take a look, and says in Argot "So what do we have here my friend, anything intresting?"
Braxton moves over to Errik and leans in to take a look, and says in Argot "So what do we have here my friend, anything intresting?"
Errik jumps slightly and then crouches down pushing his hand through the phantasm and feeling the words underneath. " It's some kind of warding spell, but I can't make out all the words, it seems to seek it's own target. Over here though now this is interesting. " Errik says getting up and stepping carefully and with obvious distaste across the blood smeared floor to the starburst symbol. " This feels so much like those amulets the black sun used to carry... "
Senthiri only catches the last piece of what Errik said. The black sun? Well, that's all we need. Senthiri sneers. Their the last thing I remember from . . . He left the last part unspoken.
After a few more minutes, the liquid starts breaking down as it dries .. very little is legible anymore. The warden should be here within twenty minutes or so if on horseback.. Leaving a little more time to kill.
Errik looks to Braxton and Senthiri. " Seems like one of those Amulets would fit right here in the indentation. Do either of you still have one? "
You know, I think I might . . .
I think I have it back home. I didn't really think it would do us any good here, but I'll go get it. Senthiri gets up and heads for the entrance of the tomb. I'll be back as soon as I can.
" Wait Senthiri, maybe we should stick together? " Errik paces from the star marking to the top wall and then again to the left wall to measure out where it is. " Ok I'm ready let's take the road so we don't miss the Warden. "
Senthiri pauses halfway up the stairs. Probably a good idea. Let's go.
After several minutes traveling the main path back to town, you see the warden ride toward you .. another man driving a two wheel wagon follows a ways behind. Warden Horne stops his horse abruptly and stares looking baffled .. "..but .. you two are dead .. Braxton, is it? ... and you are Senthiri .. I just saw your dead bodies in your apartment .. How are you here now? Alive..."
The man driving the wagon behind him stops, and stares as well ..
"I didn't drink that much lad, haha." His laughs neverously. "Well Errik at least you survived...." He looks at the warden closer and whispers in argot to the other two, "Do you think the warden's okay?"
Errik looks a little nervously at Senthiri and Braxton No it has to be them... Doesn't it? " Well sir perhaps the bodies were a magical phantasm? It seems we have a little problem with some shape shifting creatures in our town. We were just jumped by two out at the tomb site where we found Fawni and her brothers bodies. I am willing to vouch for Senthiri and Braxton here as being the real deal. "
The warden scratches his chin .. "Well .. magic, eh? "
A few more riders arrive .. The warden turns to the wagon driver and new arrivals "Load up the bodies and haul 'em back to the temple. We'll have Brother Sverin take a look at em."
"I'll escort the three of you back to town. The two of you can take a look at yourselves .. uh yourselves."
Hmmm . . . dead huh? Where are . . . our bodies now? I hope they didn't go anywhere important.
"By the gods, I hope no one has tried to loot me store since the think I be dead." Braxton starts to hussle the group to get there stuff ready and get going.
"Well I'm sorry to say in addition to being killed, your homes were ransacked... as well as Fawni's, but why were she and Dylan dragged out there? .. no idea.."
Senthiri looks at Errik and proclaims in argot, "The amulet!"
Then he turns back to the warden. There was something very important in my house we were going back for. If you don't mind, we must hurry now to make sure it's still there. Senthiri nods and motions for the other two to continue on their way.
Errik nods to Senthiri and the Warden. Then hurries away with Senthiri and Braxton.
The warden stays quiet as you all quicken your pace...
You return to the boarding house where you were staying and find - as the warden said - your rooms ransacked, and your bodies gutted in your beds..
The housekeeper and landlord are there when you arrive .. the landlord jumps from his chair, and the housekeeper faints.. They eventually recover as you investigate..
Senthiri goes immediately to where he had hidden the amulet to see if it's still there. After he looks there, he begins looking around to see what's been taken.
Errik follows after Senthiri. " Well now, there you are! " he says completely absorbed by the body. He walks over to it taking out his dagger he prods the thing. " Now what are you? " Errik mutters the incantation for detect magic as he begins his initial inspection.
Kn Arcana:
Spellcraft:
The amulet is still there .. in fact, you can't think of anything that is missing. Either they didn't find what they were looking for, or they just made a mess for an unknown reason - if any.
You do not detect any magic, but something is not quite right with the corpse. It looks like Senthiri .. very much so. You consider what it could be .. an instantaneous permanent spell would not be detected with your cantrip. Something like ... Sculpt Corpse.
Looking at the housekeeper on the floor, "What was it something I said?" Braxton holds up his hands in innocence. He takes out a vial and fills it up with his doubles blood and examines it.
It's here. Senthiri holds up the amulet. His eyebrows knit together in puzzlement, and so is everything else. Nothing's missing. Why would they kill me if not to get something? Something doesn't add up quite right.
Senthiri examines the amulet closer before shoving it in his pouch.
Braxton's suite, across the hall from Senthiri's, looks much the same. A big mess, but nothing appears to have been taken..
You have difficult time extracting enough blood. Even though the bodies do not show signs of it, they are seriously low on blood. With what you do retrieve, you detect nothing that suggests it isn't human blood - or anything else unordinary about the blood.
You see nothing that suggests this is not the same amulet.