Viktor arcs a brow. "A statue perhaps?" Viktor moves further into the room, trying to get a better angle.
"A statue wouldn't have been placed there... More likely a poor soul trapped down here." Iona said as she stepped foreword a long side Viktor.
As Viktor and Iona walk around the sitting figure. They see finally the reason it didn't answer. Sitting on the bench, wrap in a cloak is the decomposed body of a dwarf. Most of its bone visible, what is left of its flesh is stretched and dry. You almost feel as if a single touch would make it fall to pieces on the floor.
Iona's face softened when she found out she was correct. "Come. Let us leave him. Normally I'd ask to properly bury him but I fear in this condition we'd do more damage then good." She told Viktor, her hand softly resting upon his shoulder.
Viktors mouth moves into a hard line. "Come. We must keep moving." He utters a brief prayer for the soul and then tries to keep the group moving forward.
Bakji gave the room a quick once over.
The room is pretty simple, one altar, some benches and the warhammer leaning against the altar. One the skeleton, you notice a knotted gold ring and a belt pouch that seem to have something inside.
As Viktor declare that you should keep moving, the others walk inside the temple. Aravashnial turns toward him. "Couldn't we rest a few minutes. Maybe even share one of the ration? Walking until we are exhausted is not going to do us any good."
"I think he is correct. We should rest for a little bit at least long enough for all of us to get something in our stomachs." Iona agreed.
"Of course! We must keep up our energy. I shall watch the front door."
Bakji stares at the corpse and finally steps towards it "Does anyone know if there is a dwarven colony or even perhaps a caravan that goes through the town above? The ring this man bears may hold the key to a long lost relative's end. Comfort and closure for a family would be nice." he said as he bent before the skeleton and said a small prayer before he began to carefully pull the ring and pouch from his body.
He checked the contents of the pouch.
"I will help you," Aleria offered, following the large Paladin towards the front door, checking her gear as she walked. "This fall has thrown me for a loop, it is distracting my mind, keeping me from focusing. I need to clear it. I need open skies and fresh air. I feel choked and like the walls are closing in..." She tapped her Morningstar against her boot, frowning slightly as she stared at her feet.
'Oh yes, admit that to him, that will make him take you seriously for sure Ali.'
Bakji moves closer to the dead dwarf. His hand reaches out for the ring. The instant that he touches it, the head of the dwarf to face him. The mouth open and let out this horrible shriek. It sends shiver down everyone's spines and make all of you shiver for a second. That's all the undead need to stand up and open the cloak covering it.
Avenia screams. "What the hell is that?" She draws her shortsword and tries to hit the creature. Sadly, her aims, seems to be off, whether is because of the crutch or the haste in her attack, that remain unclear.
Viktor looks sidelong at the gunslinging woman. Surely one who preferred such weapons also preferred open air. Viktor had fought on open plains but also in crowded tunnels. Different men reacted differently to each; with bravery, fear, stupidity, and everything else imaginable. Viktor takes a deep inhale. "Close your eyes." After a skeptical look he insists. "Please, I wish to tell you a story." Regardless of her choice, Viktor continues, speaking in his resolute deep bass.
"In the frosty north there is a small village that has no name in common. It is a crossroads where travelers of all ilks stop to rest and tell stories and drink and laugh. It seems nothing but a traveled town, but the inns are full of the magnificent stories of the north. The vast ice plains, stretching open as far as the eye can see, broken only by gusts of freezing wind and the icy boulders that span it. The rolling mountains, piercing into the heavens and far beyond the realm of men, frosted from tip to base and stretching forever. The cities of the great Giants, so vast in size that while seeing it one cannot believe them to be real. The snow rocs, enourmous creatures of pure white that hunt the skies with great shattering cries. The mountain goats, standing at impossible angles. The trees of living flesh, ancient as the mountains themselves and always helpful to travelers. And so many other fantastic sights and creatures, all inhabiting the vast openness of the north, so open and vast that every time you inhale the frigid air you feel as if you have experienced something new."
Viktor's voice ends, the imagery resounding from his words.
Had it not been for the training of old and the the preparations he had made in order to be prepared to face demons, Bakji would've stumbled and fell flat on his ass. However, he had prepared for demons, not skeletons that suddenly awoke after others had already examined it.
He let out a small scream in surprise, his hand lashing out and grabbing the warhammer. In only what could be an instinctive act, he lashed out with the weapon.
With unsteady hands, Bakji tries to send the wounded creature to rest. The strike, however goes wide and instead hit the bench were the dwarf was sitting. The undead dwarf struck back at Bakji, one claw completely missed him while the other passes his defense. The claw digs deep in the flesh and leave a bloody wound.
Aravashnial tries to stay out of the way by moving back toward the exit following the wall.
"Bakji! Get away from that thing!" The cleric cried out as brought her sword and shield to herself, the sword pointing to the heavens and the shield in front. "Iomedae hear your faithful and grant me protection from this enemy." Iona's forehead glowed and a glimer moved down her body. The she moved in to put herself between the creature and those she now traveled with.
Viktor steps forward with a snarl. Stupid. Should have checked it for evil. His longsword comes down at the undead.
Aleria closes her eyes as the man asks and takes a deep breath, carefully listening to his words as they washed over her. She felt like maybe she did not gather all of the meaning he was imparting with them, and maybe they were just what they were at face value, but they calmed her. She began to visualize it, began to see what he was speaking and she began to relax, slowly, bit by bit.
When the sounds of combat broke out she swore and pivoted on the spot, eyes snapping open as she fanned out to the side, focusing on the creature and leveling her pistol on it, ready with a shot if it continued to attack Bakji.
Iona summons a ward of protective energy from Iomedae. She is not sure, but she thinks that the creature might have hissed at her when she was done casting. Viktor steps forward toward the wounded and tries to cut it down. The sword shine as it cuts through the air, missing the creature by an inch. Hogs move in the farthest corner hoping to not attract the creature's attention. Avenia tries again to deal some damage with her sword. This time the swing his even more off target than earlier. "Stupid ?/$%"% leg !"/$"!%"!%" You are not sure what exactly she says, but it seems to be in multiple language at the same time.
Bakji gets himself back under control and swings again at the stupid skeleton.
Bakji gets his emotions under control and swing his warhammer a second time. This time the hammer hits the dwarf in the chest. Damaging some of the bones, but not enough to bring it down. The creature shrieks again and start to lunge toward Bakji again. Aleria, who's been waiting for the perfect time to discharge her weapon, fire at the creature at that instant. The shot is perfect and hit the creature, however, the bullet just ricochets of the bones and inflict no damage.
The creature unleashes a powerful attack against the group. Its first attack rips a new wound on Bakji, blood gushing out and dropping the inquisitor to the ground. The second attack manages to pass even the magical protection of Iona and tears open a wound on her leg.
Aravashnial steps into the doorway. "I hear some awful sounds. Is my assistance required?"
Avenia: Done
Bakji: Done, Bleeding
Aleria: Done
Undead Dwarf: Done
Aravashnial: Done
Iona: Up
Viktor: Up
Horgus:
The priestess lets a cry of pain leave her lips as the claws cut into her fleash. Biting her lips, Iona works through the pain and bashes the creature with her shield, before slashing at it with her sword.
"It's a bit too crowded for spell I fear." Iona called out the the elven man. "And from where I am I cannot properly direct you."
Aleria stands there confused for a moment before drawing her dagger and advancing slowly, teeth gritted, the dagger held in a reverse trip, her small Buckler held before her.
"GO BACK TO THE HILLS THAT SPAWNED YOU FIEND!"
Viktor laments the fall of his allies and in reaction cries out, raising his sword. It flashes a brilliant light, washing over his allies and leaving a faint shimmering. Then he brings down the sword again. "No more! You must go through me to claim their lives!"
Iona tries to return the favor to the wounded foe, swing both sword and shield. But the creature proves to be more agile than expected and avoid both attacks. While doing so, it walked right into the slashing sword of Viktor. The sword bites into its arm, dealing some damage. In a rare act of bravery, Horgus move a bit forward and pull the unconscious Bakji to him. While doing so he yells out. "Will you kill that thing already?" Avenia attacks again. This time the sword hits and chips some of the bones. She yells back at Horgus. "Why don't you come and give it a try if you think you can do better"
With her pistol failing to do any damage, Aleria pulls out her dagger and prepares to get into melee. Answering Viktor challenge, the undead turn toward him and attacks with its claws. Thanks to the divine protection of his God, Viktor deflects both blows. Aravashnial is fidgeting in the doorway, not sure what to do with all the chaos of the battle.
"You two stop it you're not helping right now!" Iona snapped at the two arguing while they fought and Bakji bled onto the floor.
Goddess help me, just hold on a little longer Bakji. I'll be at your side soon.
With her mind still upon their unconscious friend Iona drove the attack on once more in hopes of eading this.
Even the creatures most deadly swings are turned aside at the wall of flesh and steel bearing down. "BEGONE FOUL CREATURE!"
Horgus moves over Bakji and tries to seal some of his wounds. But with the action around him, he can't seem to focus. "I am helping, you ungrateful woman. I'm just not a fighter. I hire people for that... better people." Avenia attacks again and almost drops her sword as she tries to maneuver in her corner.
Aleria darted forward with a small leap, aiming to drive the dagger down in to the skull of the walking Skulleton.
Aleria moves forward, hoping to finish the fight with a well placed dagger to the head attack. Sadly, her aim was off and the creature still stands. It once again tries to get through Viktor defense. The claws scrape against Viktor's shield, lifting some of the paint off. but that's the only damage the undead dwarf manages to do. Aravashnial looks upset, knowing that he can't help directly right not because of his injuries. He just stands in the doorway for now.
"We need to end this soon, Bakji is running out of time!" Iona called out as she gave her attack another go.
Creating an opening with her shield, Iona's sword come down hard on the creature. Looking at worst then when the fight started, the undead dwarf still stands, but barely. Horgus tries again to stabilize Bakji. "Come on you, stop bleeding already!"
"You are finished!" Viktor continues the onslaught.
While Viktor is determine in finishing the fight, his sword seems to have a different opinion as it misses the target completly. Her sword hits again, and again it only chips a few flake of bone.
Aleria launched herself at the creature once more, stabbing wildly with her dagger.
Aleria aims with her dagger, plunging it toward the creature. The dagger pierces and rip and the cloak, but missed the creature itself. The dwarf continues to attack Viktor. Hoping to finally get through. One if the claw scrapes against to the shield to move it out of the way for the other attack. But Viktor hold is too strong and the second attack hit the edge of the shield. Horgus looks down at Bakji. "Well, he isn't bleeding anymore. You can focus entirely on the fight now. Your friend is safe... unless that creature gets us all.
Viktor steps around the creature, going for flanking as the battle continues. His tend to wear on due to his defensive tactics.
With the knowledge that Bakji was safe for the moment, Iona focused more on the undead before them. A Slight smile came over her lips as she felt her sword hit the creature.
Both Viktor and Iona attacks swing down from both sides at the creature. With nowhere to go, it can only stand there and suffer the effect. Bones went flying a bit everywhere in the temple as the undead dwarf shriek for a last time. You can actually feel that there is a heaviness in the air that just got lifted.
Avenia looks at the bones. "I don't think I want to see another dwarf in a while. That was highly unpleasant." She then nods toward Bakji. "Anyone got some magical healing for him? If we encounter anything else down here, we will need his fighting arm."
Aravashnial moves slightly forward. "Might I suggest we bury the bones outside and set a camp here. I still think we should rest before we continue. Now more than before." He manages to find himself a bench and sit down.
A moment after the undead falls, with a deep grunt Viktor curb stomps the creatures skull with a resounding crunch! The light resonating from himself and the others fades, leaving things a bit dimmer. "Yes, let us tend to the wounded. I have no magical healing but I can patch up wounds, although I will have to scavenge supplies."
"I was saving this, though now does seem like the best time." Iona sated as she sheathed her sword and returned her shield to its proper place. Once she had settled that she closed her eyes, folding her hands together, and speaking. "I am the sword to my enemies, the shield to my allies, and when needed the healer to all. Whose hands are often the most bloody." As her words began the mark upon her forehead glowed bright and flowed out from her. All those around her felt a warm embrace of magic flow through them and their wounds slowly closing.
Soon the magic faded and Iona helped Bakji to his feet, offering the Samsaran a warm smile. "I am glad you're alright, though you still seem rather weak... let me try this." She closed her eyes and her left hand filled with a pale light as her mark glowed, which she then pressed to his chest and let release.
However with that Iona's shoulders dropped and she let out a low sigh. "I agree with Aravashnial... We should rest. I am unsure if I can call upon Iomedae's power anymore this day." She told them as she looked around.
"You know... If we clean this place up I am sure Torag will take it back." Iona told them. "I'm more then willing to put in the work, would any of you be willing to help?" She asked. "I'm sure a couple of us could do it while the rest see maybe to cooking that snake we got?"
Viktor looks around the room, smiling as the healing washes over the party. "Ah, I miss fighting alongside clerics." He considers the renovation idea. "How are we on wounds? Perhaps my time is best spent tending to that, is anybody still seriously hurt?"
Bakji felt the wave of energy flow over him and his eyes opened slowly to see Iona standing over him. He lifted his arm when she offered the help and he stood up with her help. His head still swam a bit with the pain from the injuries but he smiled none the less at her.
He winced slightly when he stretched and tried to clean himself off "This, is why I never enjoyed the blade. Too often have I felt the mortal blow delivered upon me." he said sighing.
When she mentioned cleaning the temple, he agreed and did what he could to help.
He looked over at Horgus "I am to believe you tried to staunch my wounds when I fell, Thank you." he said trying to sound sincere.
His demeanor, lack of pupil, and perhaps his general gruffness made it hard to tell just how sincere he really was. "If you would like, I may be able to help teach you how to do so with better results if you have the time." he offered, trying to be polite.
"I do believe my healing earlier got everyone, but I am unsure to be honest." Iona stated as she accepted Bakji's help cleaning the temple.
When they had finished that Iona returned to Aravashnial's side. "How are you feeling?" She asked the elven man. "If you will allow it, I would like to check on your wounds." She told him. "You mention spells before so that tells me you are a mage, are you a wizard? Or Sorcerer?"