Chillel, knowing she can do little against skeletons, waits, remaining alert.
Perplexed by the resistance the skeletons have shown, Kairon's voice grows louder, his face flushing with the wrath of the righteous as he calls upon the Everlight once more.
And after unleashing another burst of the Dawnflower's power , Kairon releases his ankh and readies his morningstar, taking a step closer to the cowering child.
This time Kairon's call is met with a righteous fury of light and power to match his own devotion. His ankh blazes forth with a brilliant casting of Sarenrae's power, and as Illiam believed, all the skeletons immediately crumble into so much dust. One cacophonous din of undead howls suddenly fills the space, and is equally as suddenly silenced. After the skeletons are defeated everyone in the party feels a wash of intense power spread through them. Almost as if they, too, were briefly touched by the gods. Every one feels new power, new strength, even new magic coursing through their veins. Whatever it was that Kairon called down, it reached inside and brought something powerful forth. Kairon, quickly recovering from the moment of glory, runs and kneels next to the whimpering and shivering Savram Vade, who refuses to look up, even when he hears the soothing voice of his savior at his side.
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Illiam Cringes at the volume of the noise. He would prefer if the group could make its way more quietly, so as not to alert the other denizens of their presence. Goruck, stand at the junction and look like Glintaxe. Everyone else, stay out of sight. Edgrin, remember how to do the sound? Give it a shot.
Illiam then begins to search the room, using Detect Magic.
As Illiam sweeps the ossuary with detect magic he does not see anything that gives off an aura; however, he does realize that the anvil behind which Savram was hiding is blocking his spell's penetration. Taking a closer look at it, Illiam, seeing the tarnish beginning to form in pockets, realizes that the anvil is some kind of metal alloy, and that part of that alloy is made of lead. Why would someone use such a soft metal for an anvil? Unless the anvil was never meant to be used for metal-working...
Taking a knee close to the whimpering youngling, Kairon reaches toward the boy, offering an open hand. Here now, lad -- it's done. Lets get you to your friends. Kimi and Mikra are in a safe spot upstairs, and we can take you to 'em. I'm Kairon. My friends and I came looking for y'all when we heard ya hadn't come back from your . . . camping trip. What say we get you to Kimi and Mikra?
Once young Vade lifts his head, Kairon will make quick introductions to the rest of the group, trying to reassure the youth.
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I'm sure you know Chillel and Dolok -- they're here to help you, just like me, Goruck, and Illiam. It's okay to be scared, but ya gotta fight through it.
Guessing that screaming about fear and fire did more to scare the child than comfort him, Kairon calls to the others: Chillel? Dolok? Think one of you could come help this fella out? Loudmouth preacher-man ain't who he wants to hear, it seems . . . . So he steps away from the alcove, and notices Illiam's puzzlement as he strides down the hallway. Find something, Illiam?
Illiam also notices that there are Dwarven runes marked on the anvil, though time has faded some of them, he is able to make out what they say. "Honra als que van caure en servei al seu déu."
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Illiam stoops to read the Dwarven lettering. As he does so, he says in a surprisingly soothing tone, It's ok, kid. We've cleared a path out of here, and your friends are waiting.
Then, turning to Dolok, Dolok, can you think of any reason an anvil would be made of lead?
Maybe it's not an anvil at all. Maybe it's designed to hide a magic item. Illiam looks for any secret openings or features that could open a hidden compartment. If he doesn't find any, he'll suggest flipping it over.
Illiam's soothing words draw Savram out from behind the anvil, and he looks up to see Edgrin, Dolok, and Chillel, all faces he knows well. He looks at them and wipes tears from his cheeks. "You, you're really here?!" He says in shock and joy.
As Illiam, now that Savram seems to be in other capable hands, examines the anvil he realizes that his suspicions are right on. The anvil looks to be inset into the floor, as if it is resting on something under the floor. Of course moving an anvil, even one made partially of lead, is not the easiest of tasks for a halfling...
Yeah, sure! . . . . Hey, Dolok -- gimme a hand, here.
Moving to stand hulkingly at the junction, Goruck feels an electric tingle work its way up from his feet to the top of his skull. Working his gauntlet off, the half orc stares at his flesh, hardened into a gray rocky surface. "By the Stone!"
Still dazed from his new ability, Goruck turns at Illiam call. "Do you need my aid?"
"Come on Savram! You know many of us here! We'll take care of ya fella! But ya got to remember, what would your father say to see you actin' this way? We won't tell him anything, but you better pull yourself together before any of the other kids see you like this! You wouldn't want them to think the son of the great Sharvaros is a coward would you?"
Then at Illiams's questioning, Dolok turns to look at the so called anvil. But the ever impatient Illiam doesn't even give him a chance to respond before he's trying to get Kairon to move the freaking thing over. When Kairon asks Dolok for help moving it, Dolok: "Hahaha! Your funny Kairon! Sure let me cast my new teleportation spell on it! ... Oh, wait, " ending with a look of dis-belief on his face. "Well, I guess I can give it try. I just hope I don't sprain something here."
Dolok gets Savram to wipe the remaining tears from his eyes, and attempt to straighten the tatters of his outfit. "You're right Mr. Dolok, sir. My dad is a great wizard, he wouldn't want me acting like this..." The boy pauses for a moment watching as Dolok and Kairon try with hilarious futility to move an anvil from its resting spot, then says: "I wonder though, why didn't my dad come to rescue me, ya know? He could waste all these stinkin' kobolds with one or two spells..." Then suddenly Savram clamps his mouth shut and looks sheepishly around. A second later he pipes up loudly, "I'm ready to go see Kimi and Mikra and get out of this dungeon, it smells and I hate it." He starts moving toward the door and Edgrin moves along with him.
"Should I take him up to the surface?" Edgrin says, looking around for some indication of the groups' desire. "I'd be happy to, but I won't be able to move that massive stone Goruck put in front of the door without some help?"
Goruck follows Illiam back to the lead-alloy anvil and after a bit of effort lifts and slides it to the side, revealing a chest underneath. Illiam quickly attempts to scan with his detect magic cantrip, and finds the box impenetrable. Once he picks the lock and opens the chest he realizes why, it is lined with lead. Perhaps that's the case because of what lies inside. Two wands and a beautiful, leather-bound, silver-clasped, jewel encrusted grimoire sit atop a pile of ancient dwarven platinum. After just a quick count, Illiam figures there's at least 375 platinum pieces in the chest, a small fortune. Looking at the book, Illiam reads the Dwaren runes that mark the bejeweled cover: "Per a qui va treballar més, el mestre Alturk."
The lock on the grimoire proves a bit more difficult than the chest itself, but for Illiam at this point, these things are not so much challenges as they are tedious, given enough time he can unlock just about anything. Opening the book, his eyes widen, as do the eyes of Chillel and Dolok. It is a spellbook, the arcane writings swirl and twirl across the page.
Chillel detect's magic on the two wands and sees that they both have a faint aura.
Heaving the anvil to the side, Goruck stares at the treasure trove they have uncovered. Running his eyes over the spellbook, the half orc rumbles, "This is quite the treasure trove we have unveiled. But the anvil was not a thing to be so easily moved, and whoever placed it was formidable in body and spirit."
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Pointing to the first wand, Illiam says That one's definitely a Magic Missile spell. Looks like it will fire a pair of them 9 more times before it's burned out. The other one is definitely a conjuration spell, but I can't quite make it out. Can you guys figure it out, or do I need to use the identification wand?
As he waits for the others to try identifying the conjuration wand , Illiam begins flipping through the the spellbook. This will be tough to interpret without Read Magic, but I think I'll need my other cantrips more until we get out of here...
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Figuring out the eccentricities of Alturk's way of writing spells, Illiam is able to interpret the entire spellbook. There's some good stuff in here, though the necromancy won't do me any good. There's a Continual Flame spell too, which can be used to make everburning torches and stuff. That one will be a little tricky for me, though...
Illiam invites Chillel to look as well, explaining how each spell works if necessary. Can you learn spells from this?
Whilst the others are hemming and hawing over the newly-found wands, Kairon saunters around the ossuary, somewhat idly examining the room's features and the powdered remains of the fallen skeletons. As he roams, he hitches his pack and other gear from time to time, gradually growing aware that some thing or another isn't properly placed, or is weighing him down more than he thought. Thought I shed enough of the weight changing armors and getting this spear! Hmmm. Gonna have to sort this stuff out . . . again. Drawing out one of his waterskins, the priest whispers out a prayer to his goddess, and Sarenrae supplies a small amount of fresh, clean water. Kairon quaffs a portion, and then removes one of his gauntlets to pour some into his hand for the little firefoot to share. He makes certain to offer some to young Vade, and any of the group who want a drink, before draining the skin and donning the gauntlet once more.
Let's get this bunch on the move, people. I forgot to leave some water with Kimi and Mikra, so now's as good a time as any to do that -- and leave my bedroll with 'em, too. Still not light enough a load I'm carrying -- Sarenrae musta been guiding my feet, or holding up my back, or somethin', 'cause now I'm starting to feel it. Probably a good idea to unload everything we don't need in that room . . . . Kairon pauses to reflect for just a moment. Hmmm . . . . Maybe tough to figure out what we do need . . . . Plenty of surprises ahead, I'm sure . . . .
Though his words urge action, the cleric makes no fuss while he waits for the others to make ready to move.
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When the group goes back up to the prison turned hideout, Illiam leaves his bedroll and blanket as well, but he keeps the newly-acquired spellbook with him. He wishes he had time to copy some of the spells to his own cards, but for now, he knows he can prepare them directly from the book if necessary.
Nodding, Goruck adjusts his massive assortment of weapons for the trip back up. "I still have Master Figueroa's finely crafted armor, and can hardly make use of two sets of protection." Gesturing with the limp armor, the half orc asks, "Can it serve any of you? Such armor deserves to guard true heroes, and I can hardly think of any more worthy.
After securing Savram in the monastery's prison with Kimi and Mikra, and dropping off a few bits of excess gear as well, the group makes their way back down. Passing the ossuary the group enters a hallway that ends on its eastern side in a set of closed double doors. There is also a passage north that, too, ends in a set of double doors.
As they reach the juncture of the hallways, Athena suddenly flies towards the door at the end of the eastern hallway, and then back to Chillel. Listening carefully, both Kairon, and Chillel hear the sound of muffled kobold voices coming from the chamber beyond.
Illiam invites Chillel to look as well, explaining how each spell works if necessary. Can you learn spells from this?
Chillel gratefully inspects the book, then replies:-
I can't learn from a spellbook like a wizard. But I can take a scroll of a spell, if it of the right kind, and use it to teach the spell to Athena, who can then share it with me. Magic casters who are not witches find this... odd, usually.
Hearing the voices from ahead, Chillel turns to her companions, points towards the door, and silently mouths the word "Kobolds".
Whispering softly, "More Kobolds? We can handle them. But what will be left at our backs behind those doors?" as he points at the doors to the North.
Chillel nods in agreement with Dolok, then quietly and cautiously approaches the doors to the North and listens.
Glancing at the door, Goruck readies the bloodied battleax.
Athena twitches with nervous agitation at whatever it is she hears coming from the northern door. Chillel, however, hears nothing.
Gurtlekrep responds to Illiam's question with: "Hen dŷ gweddi ar gyfer dwarves."
Old prayer house for dwarves.
Chillel returns to the group, gathers them close and says quietly:-
I can't hear anything from in there, but Athena can and whatever it is makes her nervous. Past experience tells me there is something in there to be nervous about. Gurtlekrep says that it is an old dwarven prayerhouse. Thank you Gurtlekrep.
Gurtlekrep looks from the north door to the east door and back again, and then suddenly says, "Arhoswch, fi yn anghywir, mae'r drws hwnnw'n ladd-dy, y drws hwnnw yn weddi."
Apparently the kobold who spent most of his time on the surface is having trouble remembering which room is which. Trusting his memory at this point is dodgy at best... A slaughterhouse and prayer house, are, after all, two very different things...
With a wry smile Chillel replies Os ydych chi'n addoli rhai o'r duwiau gall fod yn anodd dweud wrth y gwahaniaeth Gurtlekrep.
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It's possible that either door will get us where we need to go, but if not, the east is the more likely path, and I suspect we'll have to deal with those kobolds eventually either way. I say Goruck should put on his best Glintaxe impression again, and we should go that way now. Whatever creature has taken up residence in this "slaughterhouse" might be better left alone.
"I suspect either will burn just fine! I'm good to go either way!"
Moving eastwards, Goruck lumbers forwards. "Our lives should not be thrown away for something that remains contained. Let us follow Illiam's plan eastward."
Whatever is in the sacred butcher's shop could be friendly and assist us. ... Well, it is possible. ... OK, Illiam's right, let's go.