Grum shouts in consternation at the swarming bats, attempting to launch an arrow into the heart of the swarm, in the hope's it'll take out a few of them. He then drops his bow, stepping back a few feet (5' step) and drawing (free w/movement) his heavy flail.
Grob holds his ground, and hopes the bats go past him
As the bats attack Romund tries to thin down their numbers during their pass.
Grob chooses to stand his ground, offering no threat to the bats. Unfortunately they don't recognise this in the spirit in which it was offered and a number of them scratch and bite him.
Grum fires an arrow straight through the swarm. Sadly it does exactly that, and goes straight through without seeming to harm any of the flying mammals.
Finally Romund swings and it's as if the bats are drawn to his weapon as one after another fall dead on the ground. Sufficient die for the remainder to disperse and apart from a heap of small and furry dead bodies, the room is quickly quiet and peaceful again.
There is only one exit to the room - where the bats came from...
Grum gives hit brother a confused look, "What was that Grob? 'Wishful thinking' that they'd pass you by?" Grum stifles his frustration, mostly annoyed at his own poor shot. He stows his flail, retrieves his bow and sets an arrow, then when the others are ready, heads out the exit where the bats came from.
"I don't know..I Just figured they're animals so I'd not attack them, and maybe they wouldn't attack us... " Grob rubs at the scratches and bites on his face, "And yeah, I realize it wasn't my brightest move."
That was actually a good ideia but we were past that point. This things were searching for blood. Romund says while kicking one of the dead bats. Then he follows Grum to the next room.
Grum keeps his silence, recalling the pack of wolves they ran into on the road to this cursed place.
The vaulted ceiling of this vast chamber shows significant signs of damage, with numerous cracks along its surface. In the center of the room, a 10-foot-wide bridge crosses a deep chasm. On the other side, a pair of stone statues watch over the end of the bridge in front of a set of grand brass double doors. The statues depict villagers holding shields and spears.
Romund scans the room and his eyes alight on the bridge. Not all of the flagstones on the bridge look identical. They all show signs of wear but one towards the far side - right in the middle - seems less worn.
Hmm, statues didnt worked that well for us last time and I think there is a trap in the bridge on that pointing flagstone.
...crap!
Following after Romund, Grum takes care to avoid the particular flagstone his observant friend spotted. He looks nervous as Romund appears to try and disable the out-of-place flagstone.
Grob's own expression of nervousness is a mirror to his brother, but he nods, "Glad you're here, Romund."
Well... Nothing against you guys but I kind of wish I was somewhere else. the younger half orc says while smiling of his own silly joke.
With Romund's clever spot and attention to the flagstone, you all make it across the bridge without any trap being set of (as far as you are aware).
You carefully pass the statues, the idea that they were some sort of trap seems odd now - but your past experience tells you you most likely had a lucky escape.
You pass through the next portal as wide brass doors swing open on silent hinges to reveal a vast crypt. The only light emanates from a torch mounted above the crypt, flickering with a pale golden fire. Tall pillars march across the chamber, ending at a dais on the far side, on which is set a large stone sarcophagus.
A single form rests beside the coffin, that of a comely woman in tattered clothing. She appears to be asleep or unconscious.
As you enter the chamber, a dry, mirthless laugh can be heard from the dark recesses of the tomb.
“So, Kassen’s heroes have come to fight me again. You will make fine minions in my army of the dead. Come and meet your fate.” With that, a wicked-looking skeleton strides into view wearing polished mail and brandishing a cruel sword in both hands. A cold blue flame burns in its empty eye sockets.
Grum spots the form of the girl, mind instantly going to the missing townsgirl, but before he can start to feel relief, the skeleton strides into view, "Son of a... skeleton!"
"Oh, dung."
Grobradon draws his own blade, "This one talks. That can't be good, right?"
Crap!
Upon seeing the skeleton warrior Romund almost drops his axe and runs away in fear, almost. Gathering all his courage he squeezes the handle of his weapon with such strength that his finger'a joints snap.
No, not good. Not good at all!
With a deep breath Romund moves forward while swinging his axe at the living dead.
The skeleton reels from the blow and one of his arms now ends at the elbow. Regarless, he swings the other arm and a sword arcs in the direction of Grob, cutting him across the chest.
Grum's vision goes hazy red when Grob is struck, "Grob!" and Grum drops his bow and rushes at the monster, drawing his heavy flail and determined to reduce the skeleton to rubble. He has enough sense to try and maneuver into a flanking position as he approaches. His finely tuned Guide's senses focusing in on the skeleton, noticing weaknesses, nuances, and bits of information giving greater accuracy and precision to his attacks.
Grobradron's blood sprays across the floor, and between this and the batbites earlier, he's looking rough, but still he stands. "We got this," Grob says to the group, "By Gorum, We're better than this..thing."
And he sweeps his greatsword out...
Moving into flanking position with the brothers Romund keeps hacking at the undead. But his fear gets in the way of his aim. Focus, focus Romund!
Grob swings but narrowly misses the creature but straight away Grum connects with a powerful blow, staggering the skeleton.
Then Romund swings again but this time he fails to connect. The skeleton fixes Grob with its fiery eyes and his sword connects with Grob's thigh.
"You'll not better Asar you abomination of men," he taunts as blood sprays his own bones.
"Look who's talking,"Grobradon snorts at the skeleton's taunt, " You're not getting the girl, you're not taking another villager, don't care if I have to die to see to it. Gorum will welcome me."
Grobradron knows he can't take another hit like that, well, so be it. He's got faith in his brother, and in Romund too. They'll avenge him and see to it that the hostage gets back home safely. And he'll have fulfilled his duty as a watchman.
He lashes out again, possibly for the last time.
Grum growls with feral anger as Grob takes another hit and his lifeblood sprays, his own orcish blood boiling with anger, "Grob! Back away you fool of a brother!"
He punctuates his shouting by trying to bring the skeleton down with another blow of the heavy flail.
Grob launches as the creature and connects with a sickening sound of splintered bone. Both Grom and Romund fail to connect before the skeleton continues his assault on Grob.
Fortunately he is sufficiently off-balance from the recent hit to miss his target - albeit narrowly.
Seeing his brother ignore him brings a curse to his lips, repeated when his own skillful strike on the skeleton fails to penetrate the undead's defenses. I thought I'd get him for sure! Grum thinks to himself, and swings at the skeleton once again, making sure he's flanking with one of his companions to maximize their chances.
Increasingly worried Romund frantically tries to hack at the abomination but is unable to pierce its defenses.
By Gorum I can't hit him! Get away Grob!
Grobradon knows his brother's angry with him, and he knows they're all in trouble. "Sorry, Grum, Romund... but I don't think this guy is going to let me back away. I meant what I said though, we've got to stop this thing... the girl is counting on us."
And he tries to strike their foe once more, just once more, and hopes it will be enough.
Grob swings his mighty greatsword and connects with Asar, cleanly cleaving its head from its body.
As silence falls, you are aware of various piles of bones moving around the room and before your eyes, they form into four misshapen skeletons.
"Yes!" Grobradon grins.
As silence falls, you are aware of various piles of bones moving around the room and before your eyes, they form into four misshapen skeletons.
"Oh that's just #$#$ing rude!" He's tempted to let his brother and Romund handle these.
Good one Grob. smiling. You got me worried there for a second old man. That bastard sure could...
Grum charges the nearest skeleton, flail swinging for it's torso with a shout of anger. "Lookout Grob!"
Romunds joins the half orc in his attack.
"yeah, I think I'll take your advice this time...." Grobradon says a bit nervously.
Grum launches into an offensive first, cleaving a skeleton clean in two. Its fleshless body now lifeless too.
Romund swings wildly but fails to connect with any of the three remaining skeletons. Skeleton 2 hits out at Romund, causing some minor damage but the other two flail uselessly.
Grob backs away while the other skeletons are on the other two, "Sorry guys. Trying to fight smart...we'll see how that works out."
then he flings a sling stone at one of the skeletons, which ever looks to be the easiest shot. He's not feeling picky.
Grob let's loose a stone at one of the skeletons. If it had flesh it would have been a hit but instead the projectile passes harmlessly between ribs and hits the wall beyond.
"Well, I feel a bit silly now," Grob mutters.
Grum whirls to the next opponent, heavy flail sailing through the air with deadly intent. "Keep it up Grob! Maybe aim for their heads next time!"