”Rhasa! Yes I could trigger the trap from afar though I would much rather disable it to avoid any unnecessary problems.” Noriel manages to keep her tone silky and soft as if she was trying to charm Rhasa or at least talk to her the way she would talk to the males to keep Noriel from viewing her as an Elf at this time.
Again Noriel shifts her hair back to one side, tilting her head to the side as she spoke once more to “Rhasa” as sweet as she could.
”I could give it a try but my skills at that are no better than yours. Though you would have to point me in the direction as I am not familiar with this area as well as you seem to be.”
A little puzzlement is evident as Rhasadilara responds, "Of course. If you have such talent, so much the better. The trap is magical in nature and centers on the skeleton in the center of the room. I cannot tell you what the actual trigger is as Lothar investigated it alone."
Looking at Jirani, she asks, "Your expertise is at least as important here as any ability to disable traps. What strategy do you suggest?"
Noriel immediately responds to Rhasa after she completes her sentence nearly giving little room for Rhasa or any one to gather air for response.
"Magical... While my skills are acceptable, I have little understanding in the areas of magic. I don't even consider my abilities magical, although they appear that in nature." Noriel voice was very cautious about disarming a magical trap.
Noriel Darkvision was not efficient enough; considering the trap was further into the cave and her eyes were being slightly dazzled by the bright light due to her sensitivity to light, known as "§Light Blindness." Furthermore, she would happily follow anyone into the cave and assist where she could.
After a moment of silence, Noriel looked to the group and said with a bit of concern in her voice:
"Lead the way, I will assist where I can, though I am not familiar with this cave. Should you need me to set the trap off I will do so from a distance; however, I would warn caution to it."
In the mean time Noriel keeps her eyes open to the area and watches for any possibility of skeletons exiting or roaming about near the inside of the first chamber "F1", should her 60ft Darkvision allow her to see. If it is day time being 50 foot from the cave her eyes would not adjust to the caves darkness and she probably couldn't see into the first chamber, so she would just keep an eye on the entrance.
"Aye tis truth in wha was observed, though tha trigger seems tha center tha vapor did fill at least tha center...."
Barnabus unpacks his Morningstar in case a skeleton needs to be hit instead of merely touched.....
"Perchance we might be able to skirt tha trigger and look into tha rooms beyond?"
"Surely the number of skeletons is limited. Better prepared, we might be able to simply trigger the trap from a distance," a nod to the newest member, "and destroy them at the entrance to the barrow as they attack us. Simply use force of arms and holy power." She gestures to Jirani with this last.
"I just don't want to advance deeper into the tomb only to find our only exit blocked by still-awakened undead. And I'm not in favor of sending someone in alone as we did last time."
"Jariani shall I put light upon yer shield so tha yah might see in tha darkness?"
"It appears that I have to prove my loyalty at the depths of a cave crypt." Noriel first response, assuming this is some type of crypt further in that may house multiple skeletons of the dead.
Noriel looks over the cave and starts walking up as the group begins to line up near the entrance for a bottleneck defense. She doesn't enter the first room as of yet but she does look around at the cave entrance, standing some five feet from the entrance looking in. Her umbrella was still floating above her head, at which time she reaches up, and grabs the umbrella handle and folds it up since the cave offers some shade now from the morning sun.
"How in the world did I become the escape goat at the front of a deadly cave." Noriel thought.
Noriel looks into the cave that was much different from the cave she entered in when she lived back home nearly six years ago. Her face smiled as she heard some sounds above her head, hundreds of bats, which only made her wonder more.
"Vampire" Noriel whispers ever so slightly across her lips, hoping that this was not the case that rest ahead.
Noriel looked further down the darken cave as far as her sixty foot Darkvision would allow her to see, looking for this door that was spoken of earlier. She turns her head back towards the group to see if they are all ready.
"Are we ready? Noriel says back to the group, but only loud enough for people to hear nearby. She made sure that she turned her face away from the cave to avoid having her voice echo in the cave to alert anything lurking about.
Jirani listens to the banter and intently notes the description of what lies within.
No need to have forewarned me Rhasadilara, my gifts are more fixed than a cleric. As for tactics I was trained to aid more than take the fight one one one. No shield but a polearm. Though depending on how things go it might be ideal for me to acquire such a thing in the future if our career together blossoms.
Jirani holds up a hand and reaches into a pouch withdrawing a small glass bauble and speaking lowly before sitting in the air. IT hands for a moment and flicker with light as it then begins to lazily circle his head. An "ioun torch". Charming device.
Jirani pulls his ranseur and nods to the others, I just need to keep an eye on you. My spells will aid you, my magic will sustain your health. I can't kill undead outright like the clerics but we will still see this through.
Lothar opened his eyes once it became apparent that all was in readiness. We cover Noriel as she triggers the trap safely from a distance. Rhasa using her bow and Jirani with his polearm should be able to keep the skeletons off the group as a whole. Barnabus, Noriel, and myself will provide whatever support we can to bring this to an end. If we function as a team then this can be done with precision.
"Do not let yourself be caught in the black fog, Noriel. If you see it, come out with all haste." She nods, "Fight for each other and fight well."
Rhasadilara stands ready. Knowing how little effect arrows have on fleshless foes, she has drawn the very long sword that has been the focus of her practice of late.
Noriel looks at the door that is deep within the cave which appears to be closed. She does not enter the cave but she stands there looking at the door as her kinetic ability allows her to slide the door open slowly from a great distance; although, still worried that she going to be the victim of something bad.
”I really hope that this goes well” Noriel inner concern apparent as her face cringes a little, the human side of her fear factor.
As the door open it appears that everything is alright and nothing has gone bad. At this point, Noriel takes the time to maneuver a large rock from the side of the cave, ranging anywhere from 100 lbs to 500 lbs depending on what’s available. She floats the rock inside the second room and drops it in the center of the room. Literally as soon as she drop the rock to the floor her heart racing she shift her body to the side of the cave, her back pressed firmly against the cave wall. She was trying to conceal her fear of the unknown, though one could see her chest rise and fall as her breathing raced then started to settle. Noriel was able to supress the feelings along her sharp features of her face.
”Barnabus, you will protect little old me won’t you?” Noriel voice under dismay, and could hardly harness the words.
@Noriel
"I am naught certain o yer need fer protectin."
"Perhaps a summoned creature is in order."
Barnabus ponders the situation....
Jirani offers a slight chuckle and leans on his polearm as they contemplate the door. There may be nothing to it but risking our own entry...but if you have the means to send a scout in of sorts, please do.
Summon your creature, Barnabus, but keep it on hand to provide support. Lothar then looked to Rhasadilara, his expression stern. I'll go forth and check things out. If I need assistance, I'll let you all know.
And before she could talk him out of the idea, the magician strolled toward the opening of the barrow, chanting in his native Vudrani tongue, and disappeared from view.
Noriel turns to Barnabus and with her eyes widen and head drops back just a little as her mouth opens in shock. She peels herself from the stone wall as she retorts a bit perplexed to her ploy not pleasing Barnabus over as it originally did upon their first meeting. However, it didn’t relinquish her many years of training to be a seduction master over slaves, and others: sadly her training incomplete.
”Now Barnabus what would ever give you that idea; because, a women always needs a hardy men to protect her. Perhaps your not that man…” Noriel teasing voice of persuasion flowing off her tongue.
Noriel glances back towards the cave entrance just in time to watch Lothar vanish from view with an amazed thought crossing her mind.
”Hmm…That one is more deceptive then I expected, I will have to keep an eye out for that one.”
Only for a moment, Noriel waited for the reply of Barnabus; because, he was the only one truly on her side as far a she could tell.
More pressing concerns was before them, a cave that was destined to harm the group or Noriel and she wasn’t about to let that happen. Already noticing that she had let her guard down while pressed against the wall, it was time to pay more attention. She could no longer see Lothar, but it wasn’t safe to enter alone.
”I will regret this I am sure…" Noriel started moving towards the door to attempt to catch up with Lothar to keep him from getting into something alone, to prove her worth and to show that she wasn’t afraid of some measly cave. Noriel pride over stepping her common sense, but at least she wasn’t the first to enter.
Rhasadilara doesn't argue with the Vudrani, but her lips form a tight thin line as she nods curtly. She moves into the cave a short distance so that she can more quickly provide support. As she passes the witch, she offers, "If you have a distraction or a fighting creature, that may be the most help." She looks at the holy warrior, "I'm glad to know we have your aid today. Wait here until something happens - I have enough to worry about with those two." As she says this, she inclines her head toward the two leading the way.
Sword in hand, she waits several feet behind the half-drow, ears straining for any sound of her partner or the unquiet dead.
It all looked the same as before once Lothar's eyes adjusted to the darkness of the barrow mound: the octagonal walls with its crude mosaics, the thick carpet of guano covering the floor with a carpet of insects, and that sharp tang of ammonia which hung in the air.
That much at least remained constant.
He was about to creep further in but what little light he had was being blocked by someone standing in the crack that was the mound's entrance.
Barnabus... I need some light, whispered Lothar, his words carried back to the witch by his messaging spell.
@Noriel
"Fear not when I see yer need I shall answer, though I stand firm tha yer capabilities err better alowed tah move into fullness rather tha be stiffled beneath tha guise o protection."
@Lothar
"Aye Lothar light yah shall have!"
"Answer my call, come and by any name, so long as you are equipped with flame!"
Small fire elmentals.....appear and go into the barrow
"A funeral pyre fer tha dead an a light fer Lothar all in one."
Noriel stands her ground waiting on the all mighty Lothar to enter the depths of the cave, only to follow behind once she is assured that no danger is currently present. She hears the sound of Barnabus chanting some incantations in the back and then watch as two fire elementals dark forth in front of her. The light that the emanate was intense enough to stun her for a round as her eyes had to adjust to the new found light in the shadows of the once dark lit cave. She opens her eyes ever so slowly, shaking her head as her eyes adjusted.
” I would of said warn me first…"
However, Barnabus did warn Noriel with the words of the incantation but she didn’t recognize what he would summon forth till it was too late.
”Lothar, if you hear me, I am near the door about to enter if you have not let me know and I will wait for you skilled approach to give the all clear.”
Noriel was whispering to Lothar unsure if he would hear her words ever so soft. While caves doesn’t bother her she knows just how deadly traps can be considering Drow are quite talented in that area, among other areas of deception and impairment. She pulls her hand back to her side as though she was about to grab something, her Aether Whip, but quickly decided a more close combat approach would be needed here. She finished the move of her hand to her side where she unveiled a Female Demonic hilted dagger, one her mother passed on to her.
Jirani offers a considered nod to Rhas as she notes him staying at the back. As Noriel shifts about her person his eyes linger on her dagger a moment...
The paladin bites his lip slightly in thought, he had seen the symbol but was not confident of its origins. Adventurers acquired all manner of strange things in their time and the oracle merely shrugs to himself mentally about it.
To Noriel via message: I hear you just fine. Stay put for now. Barnabus is sending something in to help me see.
Specificity, grumbled Lothar as he chided himself mentally. Specificity is the key when dealing with Barnabus.
Creeping would be difficult when one had a pair of sentient fiery blobs cavorting about him. Still, he did not wish to seem ungrateful.
My thanks, Barnabus, the magician sent back through his spell. He then turned his attention Rhasa. Partner, watch my back.
He crept further into the barrow, flanked by his conflagrant, childlike chaperones.
Noriel puzzled to the appearance of Lothar as he was nearly invisible, at least to her eyes. A small slimmer of a smile graced her lips as she watched the child like: fire elementals dance around Lothar as though they were begging for candy. Simply put, Lothar stealth was mocked at by simple radiating fire elementals; However, due to the distraction Noriel took this time to attempt her own stealth around Lothar and enter the room with but one skeleton and a large stone that she put there, around 200 lbs, nothing to major but enough to simulate a person’s weight. She was done waiting, and if she was going to prove anything it best start now.
”A fools choice!!!”
Noriel recalled to memory.
”Best get a move on, this tomb won’t search itself”
Noriel words of encouragement to one’s own thought. She was on a mission and things needed to get moving, though not without her own precaution: as she entered the room she stopped to look around for traps and triggers near the middle of the room.
Furthermore, Noriel kept her dagger drawn and preceded to lift the rock up above should she need to drop a nice hefty 200 lb rock on something head; which, is yet to be determined. At this point in time she whispered back to the Lothar using that spell he cast recently.
”It appears to be clear in here, stop playing with your kids and do some work, Sir!”
Perhaps speaking all to soon….
Only to notice that Lothar had entered the room at a moment before Noriel, and her arrival to the room was a bit further in then Lothar only to pass him.
Rhasadilara maintains her distance from the new girl, staying a few feet back from the entrance to the new room.
Whispering toward Barnabus, "Can you quietly tell the fire beings to move around away from our scouts? We want them to draw attention away from us if we can."
Barnabus directs the elementals towards the two side doors rather than hanging so near Lothar..
"Secure tha side doors child's o flame..."
"Avoid tha center, perchance tha skeleton is a traps trigger."
Jirani keeps a fair pace and brings up the rear, weapon at the ready and eyes casting about intent for the undead that surely still hide here...
Rhasa notes the footsteps behind her and nods to herself. He will do us more good in here than out there, but that black fog...
Whispering into the darkness, "Lady Dregon, are you able to move the skeleton with your magic like you moved the tableware? Let everyone move back from it before you do, but that might be the safest thing to do."
"Yes actually I am capable of doing so!"
Noriel whispers back to Rhasa.
Noriel looks over the skeleton in the middle of the room and for a second thinks about how this should be handled without causing harm to her and the party members. Once everyone moves back, she moves over to the entrance door after not finding traps. Noriel stands in front of the door blocking the party and she lifts her hands in a slow easy motion and then violently throws her hands forward using her kinetic telekinesis on the skeleton. Silver strands of glimmering string could be seen floating off her body for a split second as the energy coursed through her body and rushed forward.
Noriel prepared to pull the door closed with her second move action should something happen that would cause her to seal the room.
With a wry grin at the thought she's about to voice, Rhasadilara offers, "That should certainly wake the dead."
Lothar waited, and when nothing happened, issued a low growl of annoyance. Perhaps the trap was one that, once released, was completely expended.
via message: Perhaps our last foray here brought an end to the mechanism's dastardly workings. I will go forth and see. Noriel, be prepared to pull me back should something other than nothing occur. Barnabus, ready your elementals. Jirani, make ready your skills.
No words were said to his partner. In his mind, none were needed. Though Lothar could easily hear her scolding him for his recklessness.
But the Vudrani could not ask another to do something he himself would not. And though logic dictated that he not expose himself so readily to this potential danger once again, the magician saw little in the way of proper options.
Better him than them.
It was the thought that got him into trouble the last time.
Hopefully, it wouldn't do so again.
via message: The trap is still here, as I can detect the arcane energies that empower it. We can go around to avoid setting it off. Feasible?
Whispering back, "Noriel, watch the entry on the right. I will watch the entry on the left. Lothar, go ahead and advance. Mind the entry you are moving toward. There was a glint when the bones hit the wall. Might be significant."
She steps into the trapped chamber just enough to stand right of the entrance while she watches to the left. (To get a better angle without blocking those behind her.)
“Yes, I can accommodate your desire.”
Noriel moves to the right side to watch the door, not sure if the door opens inwards or outwards. She lifts the 200 lb rock and sets it directly in front of the door on the right.
”Hmm if it opens inwards at least it will be a tripping stone, and if it opens outwards it will require a bit of force slowing them down.”
Noriel thoughts roam her mind but doesn’t let anyone know of this, rather stuck up on the matter, unless someone ask her intentions, she may be Candor to share. Her guard remained in full awareness, however she did lift her hand up creating a cup like shape and put her ear to the door to listen beyond.
Rhasadilara notices the adjustment of the rock and nods in understanding. Yes, I think she does know what she is doing. A capable woman.
Barnabus moves forward himself knowing that soon the summons of fire elementals will end. Before it does so he casts light upon his morning star...
via message....
"Short is tha time tha elementals ken walk in tha material planes...."
Barnabus reaches the doorway to the room with the skeleton in it and quickly directs the flaming small elemental children into each of the other hallways to see if they can stir anything up......