Aya, seeing the confusion on the new enemy's face, says, So you are not a member of this cult? Who then are you?
Initiative 18
Varuk takes note of the Elf and then moves his focus back to the beast of a corpse. "Do you always talk when there are enemies to fell? Strike now, discourse later!"
And with that he moves to the skeletal leader and makes his move, speaking in a strange language.
If I read it correctly, Eldon said the enemy were all dead.
Reiko, still oblivious to everything but the battle, snarls out something in a language that no one understands, and swings his katana in a wide arc, trying to catch the skeleton in the midsection.
Ka vesh nel koo thokk!
Jun will use his misfortune mystery to make Rezko reroll his last attack
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Entering a flanking position puts your undead opponent in a bad position, and though his shield almost catches the blade, it doesn't stop the momentum, and several bones in the ribcage crack loudly...it staggers...hisses, and stands back to its full height...and immediately takes a five foot step out of flanking, and raises the shield more defensively.
Rapidly, it makes a jab at Reiko, but quickly turns the blade to attack Varuk...
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He looks around, almost panicky...then unlatches the satchel...and slides out what appears to be an ancient binding...a manuscript...the leather looks...VERY odd...wrinkled, and not very thick.
I have a...potential buyer...and...if not...they say there's a black market...
I wanted you to look at it...when the time...was right...
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...and it's overwhelming. The glow coming from the casting is virtually blinding...and...sickly green, not at all like it should be...
Jun will use his misfortune mystery to make Rezko reroll his last attack
I've been waiting to negate a critical with it, but seemed a good time to end this fight if possible
You reroll, I can make anyone reroll once per day per target, but uses my next round swift action. (So I have to wait)
Round 4_____________Init 14
Antonio whips his cape off and expertly waves it in the enemy's face in a feint maneuver.
Success = Enemy flat footed and I get +2 AC.
His sword darts forth.
for a possible points slashing damage.
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Ok...seeing as it was flanked when Reiko made that attack...It ALMOST misses, now that it's been redirected...it was aimed at the shoulder, but instead, clips some ribs, and utterly shatters the pelvis...the force of the blow driving it spinning into the stone edge behind it...where the skull separates from the neck.
It remains atop the stone table, as the body collapses beneath it.
Congratulations, and welcome to second level. :)
Aya casts detect magic and begins searching the bodies and area.
Falcon takes a drink his brew. And no one figured out what they were, where they came from, or what they wanted? When was this?
Jun turns to the new comer, weapon still at the ready, "Ok the battle is over. Now, who are you and what are you doing here? And what is your connection with that thing?" Jun gestures at the freshly "re-fallen" creature.
Varuk begins looking over the collapsed pile of bones, searching for a reason they might have been walking. Runes etched into the bones, traces of malign power, etc.
Varuk takes the battered skull of the fallen foe and crushes it in his hands, letting the crumbles fall onto the rest of the pile. He then looks through the pile for a small bone, perhaps lower rib or metacarpal bone. He lifts it and says a small prayer over it before weaving it with a leather thong onto his armor.
"You have been found weak and disgraceful. Rauk rejects your claim on a second life.But to honor your warring spirit, you shall have a chance to be redeemed. I will take a piece of you with me and my deeds will be yours, to a lesser extent. That my glory should bleed off to aid you in undoing this blemish on your soul. That our enemies should fall before the servants of the Mighty and Fearsome Rauk!"
He then stands and turns to face the elf. His vibrant eyes piercing in nature. "You and I have something to settle. What is your accounting of happened here, and your justification for attacking one who did not attack you?"
We were in a heated battle with unknown cultist here in the confines of this dungeon, You came rushing into the room of the fight without a word, form where the Gods only know. I erred, perhaps, on the side of preservation. For that I do apologize.
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The schools are necromancy and conjuration.
From what you can tell, it's a genuine artifact.
I dunno how much...he hasn't seen it yet...but he buys and sells...oddities.
"I think you speak truth. Though one thinks perhaps you should use better judgement in battle."
He turns to Jun, "I am Varuk Beaststalker. My people live in the highlands west of your valley, away from you soft folk. This place is a burial ground for my people who once lived here, long ago." He crouches and picks up the armor worn by the corpse. Returning to a stand, he holds it out for these soft folk to see saying, "This man was a hero. Chosen as a sentry in the...after-life to protect something or someone else deeper in the crypt. This is a tragic thing that happened. The defilement of his body is sacrilege. He has been dishonored and must be redeemed before he can return to the great battle with the greenskins and scalefaces.
"I am a Conservator of Rauk. It is my duty to keep the faith on the right path, and to hunt the enemies to his People. I was on a journey for this purpose when I came across the burial grounds and stopped to inspect the stonework. From without I could hear the sound of your battle, so I came to see why this resting ground was being disturbed. That is when the elf attacked me though I gave no cause. And why are you people here in this Holy place?"
"Hello Varuk, I am Jun Korter, former guardsmen until my accident happened. I apologize if we are a little jumpy, but I hope you understand the confusion on our part when you came bursting in. I will try and make up in a small way for the hurt she did to you in trying to protect us for a potential assailant."
Jun Channels
I am Aya. I live with my family on a small farm near here. We were in the village for the festival when one of my neighbors came into town to get help. A runed stone had appeared in on of his fields and he was afraid. We journeyed with him back to his farm where we found his family dead and cultists performing a summoning ritual at the stone. We killed or chased off the cultists then brought the bodies back to the village where some were identified as farmers from here. We went to the farm and found this 'crypt' through secret doors. We have just cleared the crypt of these creatures and are further investigating.
That bunch? Monastery?
When the guardian falls before his blow, Reiko turns his bloodshot eyes onto the newcomer. His katana rises into the air, preparing to come down on the man's neck. He pauses, his eyes trying to focus. After a second, he slowly lowers his blade and speaks. His words start in that... other language, and then shift into the common tongue.
Valn prek tor shok deis farther in this crypt. If this man is right, our prey has already escaped out into the open since he didn't see her. Yet again, we have been eluded! Dek morl du kast! he pounds his fist into the sarcophagus, turning a corner into dust as his words slip into the other language, and his eyes finally clear up.
He puts his left palm out, and speaks a few words in the arcane tongue as he casts detect magic and begins to inspect the room.
With the collapse of the last undead, Antonio looked at the newcomer.
"I am Antonio Nedraid. We are deputies out of______ looking for evidence of a vile cult that has made several attacks lately. We were chasing a member down here from secret passage from a farm house."
He looks around.
"A burial mound? Well, I guess it makes sense. Wait; did you see a woman? We were chasing her when these undead arose!"
Veruk shakes his head. "I saw no such person. Alas, I cannot assist you with that. However, if there is a cult desecrating a place of rest for the Rauka'ateepa, I would join your search. This woman will account for her transgressions." He clenches his fist in front of himself, clearly stating a fact, not an intention.
Looking to the fallen piles of bones. "If you find anything you are able to make use of on these bodies, I would have you take them. Rauk would be pleased at tools of battle being used to destroy those that would desecrate these loyal warriors."
Taking a look at the ground, Varuk begins to search for signs of another set of footprints to follow.
Realizing that the worked floor is not ideal for this, he leaves again through the stairs, preferring the outdoors to make the tracks easier to set and the reduced number of sets of feet to aid his endeavor.
We should retrace our steps and search for any other secrets this place is hiding. There is a complete alchemy lab here. Do any of you understand alchemy? If not we should pack it up, take it to the festival, and sell it.
Antonio urges a quick search for tracks of the woman, if anyone here can track. If we cannot pick up any tracks to follow, we should search the complex for evidence.
Then head back to the sheriff to report.
Aya agrees with Antonio. 1, then 2, followed by 3.
I am good with that plan. Find her first if possible.
Aya heads up the stairs and examines the ground for traces of footprints.
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There are tracks...she stayed close to the entrance, for a while, then went off behind the crypt...and seeing as you don't see her on the mountainside, it's likely she's still back there!
Quick description, btw...this is the largest crypt entry, but there are half a dozen of them...and one very large menhir...with the symbol on it. Other than that, there are a lot of small grave markers...there are likely a couple hundred buried here...
Falcon thinks about what Manson has told him and wonders if, perhaps, the sheriff can tell him more about what has happened. He tries to locate the sheriff to talk to him.
Aya returns to the party. I found tracks that I think are hers just outside up these stairs. Please come.
Reiko begins shrinking down to his normal size, his bones cracking and popping. After it's over, he grimaces, and then speaks.
Yes, let us be on our way. We cannot afford to let her escape.
"Alright! Let's get her!"
He pauses to glare at [You know who you are].
"It would be nice to produce a LIVE prisoner for the sheriff, this time."
He resumes charging after Aya.