I think what Gray is saying is checking to make sure that whoever is lying in those caskets haven't been.....desecrated by being turned into undead. I do not think he meant we should disturb them for other purposes. Surely you can reconcile that with your beliefs.
"About religion I know nothing and less, and your god is no exception. The only reason I haven't taken action is my concern for you and your faith."
Grayface appears indifferent to the glare pointed in his direction. There were enemies enough nearby, he needed no more, especially among his companions.
Rallos heads back into the room with the caskets and leans over each one, listening for any sounds/signs of movement/undead.
Maybe this will tell us if these unfortunate souls are at final rest or otherwise.
I'm fine with checking if the bodies of the dead haven't been desecrated. And I thank you for your concern about my beliefs, Grayface.
The tone is flat, but it's the first time you hear Sister Zalinzel apologies. Then her eyes burn with zealot fire
And don't worry, Grayface,everyone finally encounters my goddess in their lifetime... whether they believed in her or not. Usually, it's at the end of said lifetime, unless you are one of her faithful, like me. I've seen more than one man or woman screamin" in pain and anger when death was about to seize them, cursing my goddess with their final breath. You can curse a table for not being a chair,Grayface, it will stay a table all the same. Pharasma will be the last one to welcome you, whether you are all alone or surrounded by family and friends, in peace or in agony.
Listening at the casket nearest to the door, everything seems deathly quiet until Ea starts talking...then there is a frantic scratching noise...something hard against stone
Rallos moves back to the party, rapier at the ready.
Well, there is something restless. I think we should focus on that.
The noise is undoubtedly coming from the casket...and getting even more frantic at Rallos' voice
Looks like you have some more work to do for your god, Ea.
Rallos draws his bow, nocks an arrow and prepares to fire at the first thing he sees that is not alive.
As Rallos moves backwards, the lid of the casket is slid open and, tentatively standing as if still remembering how to do so, a dusty skeleton arises from it's 'resting place'.
As it does so, the heavy lids of five of the other caskets also start to move... the sound of stone rasping against stone ending as the lids crash to the floor.
I think they need some of your goddess' blessings Ea...
Rallos fires at the closest zombie.
Remember skeletons have no meat to cut, just bones to crush. I'll use my goddess blessing as soon as I can get most of them in range, Rallos. This will cure your wounds at the same time.
Ea prepares herself for the fight, rising her morningstar
Rallos’s arrow clatters against the bony ribcage of the skeleton and falls limply to the floor. Climbing from the casket, it appears that Rallos’s attack, whilst deadly accurate, has not impeded the undead at all.
Channeling energy causes a burst that affects all creatures of one type (either undead or living) in a 30-foot radius centered on the cleric.
"If you can get them in a nice group, I could hit them with fire or ice. As it is, I suppose we can settle for acid!" She goes for the one directly north of her.
;
Yasmin’s attack splashes acid across the ribcage of the skeleton…the smell of scorched and melting bone is overpowering but the undead creature still stays upright…and staggers towards Rallos…scratching and clawing at the tiefling
Across the crypt, skeletons start to climb from the opened caskets.
When she judges the skeletons are close enough, Ea will release a shroud-white blast of cold energy.
When the positive energy pass through the living bodies of her companions to hit the restless dead, they feel for a second the eternal silence, the unending darkness that is Death.
Not a very cheerful experience, to say the least.
As the Skeleton’s walk stiffly towards the group, Ea calls upon the power of her goddess.
Remember skeletons have no meat to cut, just bones to crush.
Gray drops his sword and draws his flail, acknowledging the wisdom of the priest's words. Seeing Rallos attacked spurred him to action immediately.
Rallos moves behind Gray, dismayed that his weapons are ineffectual.
I wish I could help, but my weapons are no bloody good against them.
You are probably a better warrior than I Rallos, would you perhaps like to borrow my morning star?
Grayface's flail swings powerfully into the closest of the skeletons...its' skull exploding in a cloud of bone dust....and the remaining bones clattering to the floor.
Meanwhile, momentarily slowed by Ea's cold energy, the skeletons stagger towards Ea and Grayface who stand at the entrance to the crypt. Flailing bony claws swipe and slash at the pair of explorers...
[b] I will do my best. Gray, fall back....you are badly hurt. We should back up so they don't swarm us....
Rallos waits to switch places with Gray on the front line, then attacks when he does.
The fighter's blood was falling like rain. In a flash he had bleeding claw marks up and down his tall frame, and the enemies nearly had them surrounded. Making a hasty choice, he decides to fight.
"You pathetic bags of bones! Now you got me angry."
Clearly the anger was clouding his warrior's judgment, and the attack swings wide.
Sister Zalinsel stands her ground, even if she now sports an huge gash from her left shoulder to her breast. She looks directly in the empty eye sockets, and says emotionlessly
As I am, you were. As you are, I will be. I just hope my skeleton will lie peacefully in his tomb. Let Fate be.
She rises her morningstar and tries to smash down the skeleton that hit her
but her swing was too powerful and unbalanced to connect with the intended target
Yasmin backs up and flings another bit of acid at a skeleton.
;
"Fall back, use the doorway to our advantage!"
Yes..fall back before we join those things for good! Gray..move back!
Rallos moves to the back.
Ea says with grim determination
Grayface, Rallos, go back with Yasmin and Emarald so they can cure your wounds with the wand and their spells. Close the door behind you, I will delay the skeletons. Then you will come back if you want, healed. It is my sacred duty to fight the undead, and I"m the only one who can possibly put them all to rest at the same time, or I'll die trying. Pharasma will tell. So go now. I think I can take it...
A good plan Ea.....Gray, let's regroup so we can smash these.....things.
Rallos heads to the rear.
Emerald will cast a Cure as soon as Grey steps through the door.
As Grayface moves back towards the door, Ea stands firm...her fate put into the hands of her goddess...the skeletons continue to scratch and jab at her and, when the second skeleton claws across the cleric's throat, she falls....
Dragging Ea’s limp form from the room, Grayface manages to slam the door closed before any of the skeletons get through the doorway. As the door swings closed with a bang, the noise of bone scraping on wood fills the corridor into which you have retreated. You have barely moments to catch your breath before you notice the door handle turning…
Emerald moves to aid Ea, though even untrained Rallos appears to be doing a better job.
"You have deft hands Rallos," she compliments.
Between them, Emerald and Rallos stem the flow of blood from Ea's neck wound.
I think I might have found a new callng....
Rallos smiles weakly.
That was a bit close.
Rallos goes to the door and wedges a piton under it.
Just in case they manage to get it open
With his friend lying in pool of her own blood, and with various bloody deep scratches of his own, Grayface does his best to hold the door firmly closed while Rallos attempted to jam it up.
As Rallos attempts to jam a piton into the gap between the door and the floor, he starts to feel it open...a single bony hand reaching through and clawing at the air...
With grit, determination, and gritted teeth the large warrior held the door with all his might.
Grayface holds the door firmly closed whilst Rallos jams the piton in place. The scratching noise continues as the skeletons single-mindedly scrape at the door...but the door stays stuck in its closed...and safe...position.
"I have one cure left, I should bring her back to the realm of the conscious"