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Daedin gets to the door, where he hears voices from the hallway to the west.
"...whadya mean you only found bones?!? Bloody tomb, ain't it? Bloody well oughta have treasure, too, eh?"
"Boss, I don't know nothin' 'bout tombs, but we found nothin' but this here sword. Fancy, innit?"
"Fancy isn't going to pay for my expenses, Friedrich. Fancy doesn't recruit new men to replace the idiots that died in the avalanche. We need gems and gold; items that can be sold simply or used for pay. Without a proper band we're never going to establish a reputation. And a reputation, my lads, is what works for you."
Deadin hears the voices coming from the southwest.
Three statues of lantern archons cast a steady light from the alcoves in this room. Murals depicting dog-headed figures and angelic humanoids battling undead horrors cover the walls. A tall female elf and two male gnomes stand talking in the room. The elf is examining a sword that seems to flicker with sporadic flames.
The female elf whistles over the sword. "It's magic, but it's also specially forged. Not bad, but we need more loot."
One of the gnomes, with the deep voice, replies, "What about the door, boss? Can't we try that?"
"That door," the elf replies, still studying the sword, " Is a damn enigma. I have the key, but the magic leaking from it... it's not safe. We need help if we're going to open it. No, I'm not fool enough to try that."
Estra slides up beside Daedin, as quietly as she can.
"Hmm. Let's be honest; the VCs are usually sending us out to kill and steal. Could this actually be an opportunity for us to, just, help someone and share the reward?"
"Seelah." She looks around. "Where is that paladin?" When Seelah arrives, she pushes her to direct her senses at the group. "Are they evil?"
Too the surprise of all, Seelah manages to tiptoe towards the front of the group and peer through the small opening. Whispering to herself, she calls for guidance. "Iomedae, if it be your will, show me what I desire. Be these friend or foe?"
Over her shoulder, she adds "I do hope this is an opportunity. Needless bloodshed is such a waste of resources."
"What's that, boss? Sounded like footsteps to the north!" one of the gnomes calls out, as each of them downs a potion.
"Who's there? Show yourself; this doesn't have to end with death!" The elf calls, as the hairs on the back of your necks rise with that feeling you get in a spring storm!
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Hiko tries to follow the example set by Daedin and move as quietly as possible. She seems to stumble a bit though, but stays quieter than Estra and her walking stick.
Moving in behind everyone else, she eyes the group before whispering to Sheelah. "Well, are they okay to try parley with? I, for one, would like to know what they're up to in here."
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The elf calls back. "Alright. We're willing to talk, but make any threatening moves and we'll respond. What brought you here? We didn't see any signs of other people when we came inside."
"Well, that's because we came in after you." Estra laughs a full-bellied laugh. "That should be obvious, shouldn't it?"
Her laughter is both a private amusement and an invitation for the elf to join.
"We're on a quest for some artwork. Some silly-dilly fiddy-faddy wants more art, and thinks there's some here."
"Art? Really? I guess there's paintings in here, but unless they're looking for art buried with dead crusaders, you're going to be out of luck." The elf calls back.
"The elf is a problem." she whispers to her companions before stepping out into the open.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Seelah of Iomedae. We wish good tidings on those we stumble across. Sounds like this door here is causing you concern. Perhaps we could reach an agreement?" she calls out, eyeing the elf with special distaste. "Perhaps we could even become friends."
The elf calls back. "If you could help us open the door, we'd be willing to split the treasure inside with you. Deal?"
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Bock walks inside the room, both wings spread out, swords in their respective sheaths. Once he has taken a few steps inside, to not draw attention to the ones still behind the doorway, he continues the negotiation.
"And what's stopping you from killing us all after the door is open? If you manage to get this far unscathed, you're surely good enough at your job. Cooperating sounds nice, not dying sounds better.
"If we agree to open the door with you, would you agree if one of us, my suggestion is our follower of Iomedae there if she agrees, to hold your weapons while we do it?"
The elf ponders this and nods. "Fine, she may hold our weapons."
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Hiko slides into the room, and takes an interested look around. After a second, seeing that the paladin isn't doing anything she steps forward, her copy of The Master's Rebus hanging from her neck. "I don't follow Iomedae, but a follower of Irori is someone you can trust just as readily... And I probably couldn't even use anything you give me."
If they agree, she moves forward and arms outstretched to receive their weapons.
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Distracted by the vile aura emanating from the elf, she stands there motionless a moment. The sound of Hiko's voice snapping her back to the present, she frowns. "Do what? Sorry...Uh, yeah, that's fine with me Hiko."
Eyeing the elf further, she inquires "So, whom do you serve? Would you perhaps consider a better way of it?"
The elf hands over a spear, and each of the gnomes hand over kama. They nod respectfully to Hiko, showing reverence for Irori.
"My name is Laurlathsa. As for whom I serve - I serve myself and my men. That's all the service I need. The door is to the north. Shall I lead?" She asks respectfully.
Estra grows silent as the elf behaves in a way that is surprising to her as well. So readily gives up his team's weapons? This is not normal.
Seelah falls in behind the evil elven man, sword drawn. "Alright team. Keep your eyes open."
The elf leads you north to a short stairway down that ends in an ornate door. Another similar door sits to the north. The entrance to the chamber is an iron door covered in chains that glisten with magical runes, and the chains are sealed with a superior-quality padlock that seems to match her (the elf's) key. The room is warded with moderate abjuration, conjuration, and evocation magic.
"As you can see, I could open the door. But it worries me. I exect there will be treasure locked within, but what if I'm wrong? There's safety in numbers. Here." She hands the key to Seelah. "Be my guest."
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Hiko gingerly accepts the weapons, her fake smile twitching slightly as she tries to keep her eyes on what the elf is doing. I hope I'm not doing anything too stupid here...
As she steps back fro the three with all noticeable weapons in hand, she nods at the elf's suggestion. "I'm rather curious what might be behind this door! Feel free to lead on."
As the group moves to the next room she hangs back with Sheelah and anyone else willing to listen to her for a second. "I don't trust that elf. I don't know if he's up to something but be on your guard."
"Me neither, m'dear." replies Seelah in a hushed whisper.
Looking to the door, she nods. "I do see why you had concern." she admits. Reaching for the key, she's ever so careful to avoid touch the elven woman.
'Hope her vile aura doesn't infect me.'
Breathing a sigh of relief, she turns back to the door. Slipping the key gingerly into the hole, she pauses. "Alright, hope you are ready for this." she calls back and turns the tumblers within.
Pulling the door open, she looks inside with sincere curiosity.
Four large, unadorned stone sarcophagi stand upright in alcoves along the north and south edges of this chamber, while a fifth stands on a small platform to the west. Above the platform, a large inscription reads, “They gave their lives to battle death.”
Four limbs—two black and two white—reach out from a swirling vortex of pulsing light and deep darkness that sits atop the far tomb!
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Estra stares at the swirling thing of arms with simple awe on her face. "I've seen a lot of things in this life, haven't I Honaire. Nothing like this. What is that thing?"
"What are you, thing?"
"..."
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As she catches up to the group, Hiko starts stuffing all of the weapons she received from the gnomes'n'elf into her obi. After a moment or two she starts to clink and clank as she moves.
When she gets to the room it's just in time to see the lock coming off and the door opening, trying to peer around the much taller people in her way. "Umm can you move? You're kinda in the way!"
When she gets a clear view of the swirling mass of stuff, energy, tiny things? in the room, Hiko whistles. "Welp, that's not something we can see everyday. I... don't know what to say. Uhhh" Hiko decides to raise her voice, making it reach to the back of the room, alternating through Tien, Ulfen, Common and Draconic, she says, "Hello! Can you understand me? What are you doing here?"
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The creature seems to dart forward and back so fast it doesn't seem to move in between. Suddenly the dim light of the tomb erupts into bright daylight, nearly blindingly so. The creature seems to focus and each of you feels an intrusive presence in your minds. The creature gives a start and an image flashes in front of your eyes of blood and flashing swords and crashing lightning, while the noises of thunder and steel upon steel rings out!
"Well...what in the...." sputters Seelah. "Yeah, I'm not sure....ummm..."
"Iomedae, show me the nature of this....armed ball of ....thing." she grumbles. The whispered words of her companion registering, she frowns, responding in a hushed tone. "I'd rather not. Perhaps we can reason with the little ones....but that elf I fear is planning to betray us."
The elf lets out a low whistle and she mutters "Forget this stuff!" using less PG and more R-rated language. She murmurs and spell and nods to the gnomes. They drop into martial stances as the ball of light and dark lets out a mental shriek and does the same as it begins to exude intense cold from itself.
ROUND 1:
Daedin, Hiko, Estra, Red Raven
Elf!
Seelah and Weird Thing!
Bock, Honaire
Gnomes!
The elf snarls. "A damned threat! It's already shown us fighting and dying and it was locked away by CRUSADERS for a reason. Less talk, more fighting!"
The creature keens in an alien tone as the it arrow hits it!