In her bed, Merian dreams...
She is running up a hill. The sky is dark and stormy, winds whipping her cloak and tossing the clouds like dice. The ground seems to clutch at her feet, but she struggles upward.
At the crest of the hill, a building comes into view, dimly-glimpsed ruins within a stone wall. The iron gate reads "Harrowstone," and to either side as far as she can see, the granite blocks are splashed with blood and covered with names. She reaches the gate itself, pulling to get in, but the heavy bars do not yield. Lightning flashes and the wind picks up - it carries with it the sound of hideous laughter from somewhere within the walls.
Beyond the gate she can see a courtyard, and a large rat begins to crawl across it. As it reaches the center of courtyard, it flows upward, turning into a humanoid figure, facing away from her. In the next flash of lightning, she catches sight of an impossibly tall, thin figure lurking in the darkness beyond, a hideous grin stretching across its face and a gleaming war razor in its hand. "Look out!" she cries. "He's right there!"
The figure turns, and she is horrified to see blood pouring down its chest, its throat cut from ear to ear. The blood forms a bright red "V" on its stomach, searing her eyes with an unholy glow. "I know," the figure gasps. "Help me... I'm next..." Behind the figure, lightning flashes again, and suddenly there is a war razor at her own throat...
Merian sits bolt upright, reaching for her throat as she chokes off a shout. There is no blood. The dim grey light of the predawn slips into her room through the slats of the shuttered window, and all is as it was before she fell asleep. Pulling on her tunic and breeches with unseemly haste, she grabs her sword and all but tumbles down the stairs into the kitchen where the others are waiting.
"The monument," Merian gasps as everyone turns to look at her. "It's the Splatter Man's ritual. Someone in this town has a name that begins with a V, and that person is going to die."
Dillan keeps his cloak about him to ward of the chill in the air. He remains silent on the journey to the grave and allows the others to pay their respects. After the respects have been given and they all look about with thoughts of their next step, "Perhaps we should go the church first. Perhaps they know of this cache of anti-dead weaponry or will allow us to puruse their grounds for it."
Tre once more plays a baleful tune on his instrument, evoking the mists that shroud the path to Pharesma's seat, where she sits in judgement. The tune becomes more peaceful and relaxed at its end, as the tune accompanies the dead to the lands of peace that Pharesma takes the good spirits. He bows to the professor's grave speaking, "Υπόλοιπο τον φίλο μου, γνωρίζουμε συνεχίζουμε σας Καταπολέμηση του κακού."
Rest my friend, know we continue your fight against evil. (Using Greek for Elven)
After all have had time to make their peace with Professor Lorimore, he answers Dillan's words. "I believe it is best to follow your late friend's path and find the false crypt in the Restlands, (at the intersection between Eversleep and the Black Path). I am sure the professor went there without permission from the church, as he was not certain that the current clergy at the Temple of Pharasma even knew that their predecessors had hidden items of protection down below. If we follow his footsteps, maybe we can make our way to the crypt without disturbing the locals, and that includes the clergy. If what Merian says is true, we don't have time for the bureaucracy of the church, for there is an innocent soul in danger from some power from beyond the grave. And I believe Merian, she is one who speaks with the divine, her words hold truth and meaning."
After visiting the gravesite and saying a blessing of Pharasma over the tomb, Cassandra turns to the others gathered around as Tre and Dillan discuss the next step "I agree with Dillan and say we should speak with the local clergy first. The townsfolk are already suspicous enough an dif we should be discovered opening a tomb, withour first securing the blessing or at least notifying the local priest of our intentions, it would only bolster the already negative mood."
Arturin grabs a handful of dirt and spreads it on the grave, then takes a small knife out and makes some markings into the fresh grave. "Travel into the beyond without fear or regret. Rest well."
Turning to the others gathered. "It has been my experience that it is usually easier to beg forgiveness than to ask permission. I think it is agreed that we will be looking for this crypt regardless but if we alert them to our intentions and they refuse us then we could really cause some trouble."
Merian pours a small amount of wine, carried with her from Kendra's house, onto the grave, then closes her eyes in prayer. She is silent for several minutes, but then opens them once more and joins the others as they plan.
"I'm not really comfortable with tomb raiding," she says, "but perhaps Petros had reason for not wanting to get the local priests involved." She doesn't look happy at the idea, though, and is uncharacteristically diffident and withdrawn from there on.
"Perhaps the Professor feared their superstitious nature," Dillan muses, "It may be best to slip in and not be noticed and never need ask for forgiveness. In fact I recall many of the Professors exploration going into areas and not clearing it with local...authorities shall we say."
Barret stands at the grave with an uncharacteristic solemn look on his face. He closes his eyes and say a few words in what one would assume is his native language of Hallit. When he is finished, he opens them again and looks to the rest of his party.
"We do what we must. If we have to enter a tomb to stop this, then so be it. I say we go now."
Listening to the discussion, Tre is quiet waiting for all to finish their thoughts. "Then its seems we go now, be prepared, we must be swift to enter, thence we can take precautions. Kendra, can you take us ther, once you have shown us the entrance, we shall go on together, leaving you to your daily routine." The elf is agitated, for crypts are never as straight forward as they seem, but needs must. This is a nervous time.
Dillan will look about the area for anyone else nearby or able to view the party...
If there is no one around he will step up to the tomb and inspect it's door area for anything foul...
If there are no traps he will attempt to open the lock...
And if there was/is a trap that he did detect he would attempt to remove/disable the trap...
Tre watches Dillan about his work, nodding and smiling to himself. The professor was a bit of a dark horse, such talents at his disposal, no doubt we need his services now. Thank you professor.
Merian, watching Dillan work, looks as though she is about to say something, but instead shakes her head and remains silent.
Merian, watching Dillan work, looks as though she is about to say something, but instead shakes her head and remains silent.
Barret just stands there while Dillan works on the door. He looks around rather impatiently as though he would prefer to break down the door and get it over with.
Dillan removes the lock and tosses it to Tre',"It would seem someone else has been here and wanted it to look as if nothing had been disturbed." He sighs, "How tacky though...acid; it takes no skill." Dillan then moves to the door and opens it, "Ready?"
"Lead the way, I will be right behind you." Arturin pulls the Bardiche off his back and prepares for what may lay ahead.
"Whenever you are ready, little man. Lead the way."Says Barret as he cracks his knuckles.
Dillan hols up his free hand, a gesture he used often with the Professor; indicating for the others to stop. He doesn't check to see if they understood, Now this is what i'm talking about, cold damp, cut stone work...now where are you my love. He begins his task, slowly and with a smile...
He cautiously makes his way across the room, staying light on his feet ready to react to anything.
With a frown upon seeing the darkened crypt, Merian leans over to Cassandra and touches the woman on the shoulder, murmuring, "Debesīs, pasargātu šo sievieti no ļauna," as she does so.
"What are we waiting for? Someone has been down here, we should follow." Barret says very abruptly, possibly breaking Dillan's concentration. It seems as though he is a bit anxious to be done with the crypt as soon as possible.
And then the assilant comes from nowhere laying waist to our small expidition. Dillan waits a moment for the impending doom that is sure to befall them with the barbarians outburst. Realizing there is no attack coming he turns to the savage and in a low tone, "I would appreciate a degree of silence if you will. We are not here to wake the dead or alert anyone of our presence."
He then silently moves following the tracks to the door, once there he attempts to listen at the door and conduct an intial investigation of it.
Stealth
Perception/Listening at the door
Perception/Traps on/around the door
If there are traps/Disable Device
And finally if the door is locked/Disable Device
Dillan continues down the path cautiously and ever alert for danger...
Perception
Stealth
Arturin follows about 10ft behind Dillan, attempting to be as stealthy as he can considering what he is wearing.
Barret will follow, not particularly stealthy, but he will look around and attempt to be alert.
Perception
Tre nods to himself as he watches Dillan's progress. As they move further on Tre stays to the shadows, keeping out of site as much as his rich robes allow.
Barret will follow the little man into the chamber.
Merian, still clearly uncomfortable, remains hovering in the doorway.
Dillan takes in the room eyeing it for dangers...
Perception
Then continues stealthfully into the room ever alert for dangers...
Stealth
Perception/Traps
Arturin keeps 5ft between he and Dillan as to not disturb his concentration too much but advances with him, Bardiche at the ready.
Tre seems to get quite interested when Dillan mentions the sarcophagus on a raised dais. "Perhaps, if you've made sure it is safe, I could spend some time looking at it? There's nothing like a little research to help things along and make a place interesting." says Tre as he waits for Dillan to finish his work. Thence he starts to study for writings and to see if there is knowledge to be gleaned.
Dillan will examine the Sarcophagus for traps and to see how it is opened...
Perception/Traps
If there are any he will attempt to disable them...
Disable Device/Traps
Tre calls to Merian, "You understand the ways of the church and gods, do you not? At least you understand the divine, so what do you make of placing a false tomb and crypt here? Ask, why is this here, what is it for and what did the Professor find here and where."
Cassandra will look at Merian and with a shrug of her shoulders enter the tomb. "Better to be inside, away from prying eyes, than to be found standing in front of an open tomb."
Once inside Cassandra will look around the upper chamber with Tre.
As Dillan prepares to descend to the lower chamber Cassandra will cast Shield of Faith on him.
Feeling that the sarcophagus is not trapped and recalling his place with the professor Dillan looks to make sure the others are ready and opens the sarcophagus...
Barret nods his head to signify that he is ready for whatever comes.
Tre calls to Merian, "You understand the ways of the church and gods, do you not? At least you understand the divine, so what do you make of placing a false tomb and crypt here? Ask, why is this here, what is it for and what did the Professor find here and where."
Merian takes a few steps into the room, looking at the carvings and frescoes, but her heart doesn't seem to be in it. She shakes her head, replying, "If Petros was right, it's because the Pharasmin church never planned to inter anybody here. You don't waste real prayers on fake tombs."
Tre nods at Merian's words and watches as Dillan opens the sarcophagus.