"Maybe Sir Balin got out of here after all. We should get out of here." Timeon looks at the room and the stairs as a way out. While everyone is searching the room for hidden doors he walks over to the podium and picks up the pendant. "Are you sure this is fake? It looks exactly like the one Sir Balin always wears. He might have left this as a clue for me to follow him out of this place. Come on!"
Cole cringes for a moment as the boy picks up the pendant. He waits a moment to see what may come of it. After seeing nothing happen he speaks.
Timeon. So Balin wears a pendant like this then. I don't think such a man would have a fake one as this. It seems the evil people may have trapped him here and are trying to play a trick on you and us. They want us to try and get out this way, but we found out there are nine rooms to this maze and this is only the sixth. Now put that down and help us check the walls if you would. Be a good squire as Balin has trained you.
He waits a moment hoping his words struck home with the boy.
While the others talk Kana searches the room thouroughly.
Searching the room reveals a hidden door in the western wall. Timeon replaces the pendant with a sigh and follows behind everyone else again. The hallway leads to another door after going south and then east. The inscription above this door reads “Secrecy is our
greatest ally. Exposure brings death.”
Kana manages to spot a strangely uniform crack in one of the walls that nobody else does. Pushing on the crack reveals a hidden passage leading to the west. It comes to another door, not hidden from this side. Above it is an inscription which reads, “Beware the fallen for they may
rise once more to threaten you.”
Well lets think, Timeon told us there was an alarm that would call the drowned men. and drowned men certainly would be some stinky water logged zombie. I say we just skip the secrecy room as it is probably some sort of room we need to sneak through for the drowned men not to be called. Lets just take the fight to them. Sound good. Fortunate we have that option. Good eyes Kana.
Cole moves to push and open the wall.
This square stone chamber is lit by a small oil lantern that hangs from the center ceiling. It has eight battered wooden coffins that are encrusted with salt brine, barnacles and dried sea weed. Nothing seems to move but as soon as you all enter the room you hear a scratching noise. Moments later two forms burst from their coffins on the western side of the room. They hold rusted looking greataxes in their hands.
These are Draugr. As some other types of undead they are resistant to piercing weapons.
Above plus - Undead drowned seamen whose nauseating attacks are very dangerous as they try to send their victims to the depths with them.
Above plus - The sea is such a part of these undead that they are resistant to fire.
I don´t know why we focus on those people so much, but don´t we have some tests to get through here? And now we are fightung undead. Nice.
She waves her hand, sending a splash of acid versus the first draugr.
Kana steps back to give herself room to fire a bolt of acid which splashes over the undeads arm, melting away some of the rotten soggy skin. That same Draugr attacks the first thing it sees with Wade being within reach it swings but luckily stumbles as it does so, a great clang is heard as the greataxe hits the stones near your feet.
Cole will 5' step back to attack number 1
Timeon step away, but use caution. I will protect you.
Ooooh, I'm sooo scared. Never would have guessed these bone piles were going to suddenly animate...
Alchemist Fire vs. Touch AC @ Draugr 2
Draugr 2 shrugs off the alchemist's fire as if it hadn't even noticed it then lumbers after Fletch, greataxe swinging high before coming crashing down leaving another chink in the stone floor.
Cole moves away and leaves a mighty wound in Draugr1's side.
Wade drops Draugr1 to the floor and it falls back into its coffin unmoving.
Crap, resistant to fire and arrows? Maybe there is something else around I can throw. My dagger won't even scratch on this guy...
With Wade helping to drop the first one Cole turns his attention to the second. He steps up to his right next to the door and takes a swing.
Kana sends a bolt of acid right into the second Draugr's face causing some of the rotten flesh to slide off and splat onto the stone floor.
I will pick up a loose board and throw it like a club at Draugr 2(which actually have a 10 ft range increment).
Fletch picks up a sizable piece of rotting board from the coffins and scores a solid smack on the side of its head snapping its neck. With the head at an inhuman 30 degree angle it roars and comes straight for Fletch. It swings the greateaxe straight out in front of it in a hideous curve leaving no where for Fletch to dodge and cuts him across the middle. Fletch feels a sickening feeling go through him as the corrupted metal cuts him but throws it off for now. Timeon screams pointing to the other side of the room. "More are rising!" As Declan circles around and delivers a finishing blow to Draugr 2, another two coffins burst open and another two Draugr stand wielding greatswords instead of axes.
Round 3
Cole will step to the closest one and continue his assault.
Using the Withdraw action to move 2 squares west (out of range of the enemy and still adjacent to Wade).
Augggh! You thrice-cursed water mummies, that hurt!
No other actions for this turn that I can think of.
Wade uses the wand to heal Fletch and Kana steps away from the newly risen Draugr also firing a bolt of acid at it melting away some rotting skin, revealing more rotted muscles and gray tinged ligaments beneath. The Draugr3 grips his weapon and makes for the closest enemy, it steps towards Fletch and attacks cleaving through flesh and bone leaving an almost fatal wound , Fletch is able to move away but not do much else. Blood drips off the Draugr's blade as it watches its victim retreat. Draugr4 charges straight for Declan and its sword hacks right into her side . Cole steps forward past Wade and cuts Draugr3 diagonally in half from right shoulder to left hip. It collapses to the ground to move no longer.
Wade hurries to use another charge of the wand on Fletch . The wand seems to be performing exceptionally better than before not that is is properly warmed up. Declan deals a series of blows to the remaining Draugr only 1 of which gets past its defense and a sickening crack of bone can be heard though this of course does not phase the creature in the slightest.
Kana again fires more acid but succeeds only in hitting the wooden coffin at its feet and melting a hole in it.
Cole moves to bring down the last of them.
Fletch holds his hands across the bloody gash the Draugr had left, barely managing to shuffle out of the way. A wave of relief shoots through him as the healing magics quickly reknit the tissue leaving nary a trace of the more recent wound and staunching the flow of blood.
Thanks...Wade...I think I'm going to go lean...against that wall.
Fletch uses Total Defense to gain a bonus to AC and use a five foot step to move diagonally northwest away from the Draugr.
Feeling slightly better Fletch hobbles away as the Draugr continues its assault on Declan but this time she is able to dodge the attack. Cole moves down to flank and help destroy the beast but does not quite do enough damage to bring it down.
With another two solid hits from Declan the damage to the Draugr is too much for the necromantic magic to keep it moving and falls to the floor sword clattering on the stone. You wait, but no more rise to harass you. It seems you have managed to pass yet another of the Cardinal's tests. Timeon peers carefully into the room when the noise of battle dies down wondering if it is safe. He picks up one of the dropped greatswords and tries to hack off the head of one but only manages to trip and almost fall face first into the mass of undead flesh.
The east door presumably leads towards the room you had skipped by finding the secret passage. The west door leads down a short hallway to another door with another inscription. “Serve thy master well and be rewarded.” The door is locked but there is also an iron key hanging on a peg next to the door as if keeping something in not keeping you out.
I could use some more curatives. Wizards really aren't built for melee.
Fletch attempts a half-smile through the pain.
Perhaps now we will get to see the famous Sir Balin? We will likely have to kill him of course. And the little kid too.
|
wade looks over his injured party members and says to them very well please show me where you are hurt assuming they oblige him, he pulls out his wand to heal the alchemist pressing it gently into the affected area and lays his hand on the monk rubbing gently around the wounds his hands glowing with negative energy
Cole walks to the door, looks at the inscription then to the key. He raises his hand and slides it over the inscription, then looks back to the group.
This must be it. This may be were Sir Balin is. Timeons stick close to us until we are sure he is of his right mind. It can't be certain what those above may have done to him. Everyone ready?
Cole takes the key and opens the door.
The door unlocks and opens into a final stone room with no other entrances or exits. The plain stone room is lit up by another singular lantern. The room is not otherwise empty however. A man in full knightly armour stands in the middle of the room, holding sword and shield ready. He seems unsure as he looks at you. He seems to notice something about Declan and his stance stiffens. When he sees Timeon behind you he calls out, "Timeon my squire, you found me. Come here boy." Timeon heads forward to go join him.
Sir Balin, we are happy to have found you. Timeon told us of your encounters. We too were chased down here. Lucky we found the boy. Have you found a way out?
As the knight changes his stance Cole moves his hand to the hilt of his sword.
Lets see how best to move forward. Ah I have it.
Sir Balin are you hurt I could conjure up some healing magic for you.
Timeon runs to Sir Balin and is very happy to see the man. "I knew you had survived. I prayed to Mitra for hours to help us. These people helped me find you."
He listens to your words and after checking to make sure Timeon is ok and unharmed he turns back to you but does not put away his sword. "Who are you really?" he says to Wade seeming to see through his lie, "I need no healing. Tell me who you are and why I am being held down here these past two days?"
"Then I demand you release us to escape this cursed place."
Cole speaks a few words of magic and makes signs as water fills the lantern and puts out the flame. He moves inside the room from where he was.
It is of no further use Wade. The Cardinal would be quite upset if we left this place with Sir Balin in tow. We are here for that pendent you wear. If you surrender it and your life, we will spare to the boy. If you fight we will kill both of you. Do the honorable thing and die for your squire.