The party advances cautiously through the cave, Alicia hovering dangerously at the very edge of the aura of light.
"Blast. If this place comes alive we are goin' ta be in a heck of a pickle. These giant skeletons practically cover the walls. Keep movin', lot. We've got an opening not to far ahead of us runnin' toward the southeast," he informs the others, heading for said opening.
"These things are long gone. It would take powerful forces indeed to move creatures this size."
Despite Marikel's assurances, he continues to whisper and follows Dorn's directive.
Ali keeps ahead of Dorn and Marikel in the shadows.
Mahath pauses for a moment, casting a spell in a whisper. After a moment of concentration, he whispers "Something magical ahead, there.", as he points ahead into the darkess.
Dorn looks to Mahath and then traces his pointing, "He's pointin' toward a skeleton that's just ahead and to the left of the next cavern's openin'. Stay ready, lot. There's just way to many skeletons in here for not one of 'em to be comin' alive and tryin' ta kill us." Dorn continues on, keeping an eye on the skeleton.
"Its faint, but definitely there."
The party cautiously advances until Marikel's light illuminates the skeleton in question. Except for its proximity to the cavern opening, it looks no different than any of the other skeletons in the cave, chainmail hanging loosely from its clavicle and a spear with a broken point leaning against the wall near its bony hand.
Shrugging, "Maybe it's the armor you were pickin' up, lad. Do ya think so?"
When the light washes over the skeletons, Mahath frowns and says "Not the armor. I believe it is the spear."
Raising an eyebrow, "The one with its point broken off? Well that's interestin'. Usually magic items are not so easily broken. Let's check it out." Barring someone stopping him, Dorn moves to retrieve the spear.
Inspired perhaps by morbid curiosity, the others watch Dorn approach the skeleton. As he extends his hand toward the oversized weapon, the bones suddenly come alive with a dry rattle!
Weapons already in hand, but no idea what's going on, Ali hesitates.
Dorn grabs the spear and throws it aside. "Let's see if we can keep that away from it! The less this monstrosity has to fight with, the better!"
Dorn calls on Skyreaver to attack and the bird easily complies. Taking to the air, he flies straight toward the large target.
Ali steps behind the skeleton and tries to stab it in someplace vital.
Dorn grabs the skeleton's oversized spear and tosses it behind him, as he commands Skyreaver to attack.
The roc takes to the air and seizes a bone in its beak, tearing it away from the skeleton.
Alicia slips in quickly behind the skeleton and drives her rapier into the chain shirt, her pinpoint aim and the force behind the blow using the skeleton's own armor to crush several ribs.
The skeleton, deprived of its weapon, uses its bony digits as claws, swinging at the dwarf and the roc. While Skyreaver dodges the slash, the finger bone rips open Dorn's arm.
"Good shot, Alicia. But we need blunt weapons against these monsters to crush the bones. Or other powers."
Shield drawn close, Marikel takes a step forward. He swings his sword low and a burst of positive energy washes through the skeleton.
Iomedae's positive energy flashes over the unquiet bones, and cracks and crumbles appear.
Mahath seems stunned for just an instant, and he murmurs "The stories were true."
Not as accustomed to battle as the others, he forces himself to focus, to fight back fear over childhood horror stories coming to life before his eyes. Almost on pure reflex, he recites a spell and gestures at the skeleton, sending a ray of burning heat at it.
Moving to a position where he has an open channel toward the undead, Mahath unleashes a ray of scorching heat. After a moment, the charred bones collapse to the stone floor under the weight of the chain shirt, once the malign force animating them has been destroyed.
When the skeleton collapses, Skyreaver returns to the ground and catches sight of something on the ground and pecks at it.
Dorn himself manages a huge sigh of relief. "Whew! I'm glad we took that thing down. Not sure how many more swipes I could've taken from that one. The bloody bag o' bones got me pretty good." He inspects the wound a moment before shrugging. "Anyway, I think I'm gonna snag that spear. To blasted big for me ta use but I'm thinkin' we could get a fairly nice bit o' coin for it," he nods , grinning.
Dorn picks up the oversized spear. It is unwieldy for his size; it can be dragged with one hand or carried with two, but it may prove cumbersome if there are more enemies ahead.
Dorn test different ways to carry the oversized spear. He tries one way and finds that's no good. He tries another way and finds that that's also no good. He then ponders one other way and gives it a shot and ultimately finds that that won't cut it either. "Blast!" he swears, throwing it on the ground. "Okay, new plan. Come back for it another time once we clear out this stinkin' hole full of bad guys," he decides, nodding firmly. "Alright, now that that's settled, let's keep movin'." Dorn grabs his warhammer and proceeds toward the next area.
"Wait. Let me check that wound."
Nodding, "Thanks, lad, that helps a good deal. Definitely puts a bit more zest in me step," he says as he rolls each shoulder a couple of times to work the kinks out. "Alright, NOW we can get back ta movin'. Let's go."
Mahath steps over to the spear and concentrates on it, trying to determine what about it is giving off its aura.
Spellcraft to identify.
The group cautiously moves forward into the next area. Raised ledges outcrop from the walls of a wide-open, high-ceilinged natural cavern.
Ali quietly skulks ahead of the group, wishing--not for the first time--that she could see in the dark like a dwarf.
"Hey! Looks like we found ourselves a bit o' treasure. Right near the base of that spire of bones not fifteen feet from the lass. While I'm not against collectin' treasure, I do have a tendency to concern myself with a pile of it just sittin' there. Why is it just sittin' there? is me first question. And who - or what - does it belong too? Only one way ta find out, me friends," he says with a wink. He then leads the way, keeping an eye out for everything.
"Wait! Is that going to do the same as the spear?"
Marikel advances warily, sword and shield still in hand.
The dwarf pauses, pondering the question. After several moments, "Ya know, I don't know, lad. Maybe Mahath can shed some light on that one," he states, looking curiously over at the wizard.
Marikel advances until the tower of bones Dorn mentioned is visible in the dim light at the edge of his sword's illumination. Treasure, covered with a thick layer of dust, has been piled around the base of the spire, like some sort of offering.
"I don't believe the magic of the spear was responsible for the skeleton attacking us. Perhaps the necromancy that animated it, whether intelligent or naturally occurring, established the condition to attack. Or perhaps it is just some latent passion of the deceased for the weapon from life. When I examined the spear, the only power I found it to harbor was an enchantment to enhance its prowess."
Ali keeps just ahead of the light, though she pauses once she is able to make the outline of the spire of bones more clearly.
Marikel frowns suspiciously.
"Alright. Let's check it out."
The spire appears to be constructed of bones of various types: animals of all sizes, as well as humanoids. In a few cases, the integrity of the construction is supported by small stones or handfuls of gravel or sand wedged between the skeletal structures, but for the most part, its composition is uniform. The far side of the structure, facing east, seems to contain some much larger bones, including what looks to be a massive skull near the top of the spire, and most of the treasure is concentrated on that side....
Alicia quickly ducks into the shadows again, making sure her rapier is in hand.
Marikel steps forward towards the sound.
"Stand firm. Iomedae will Bless us."
With a wave of his sword, holy power and a sense of resolve wash over the party.
Dorn moves up next to the healer. "What in the blazes are we fightin'?! Is it another one of those blasted twenty foot tall skeletons?! Because, ya know, that would totally bite."
Dorn directs Skyreaver to a similar position opposite of him.
Mahath creeps forward with the others. He's impressed with the way they spread out without a word; clearly they are a well seasoned team. He is a little unsure how he fits in that, so he sticks close to Marikel and Dorn. When he feels the uplifting sensation of Marikel's bless wash over him, it makes him realize they think trouble is imminent. He quietly casts a spell, and three more 'Mahath's' shimmer into existence around him.
Images
Mahath approaches the danger and seemingly multiplies.
Something darts at Alicia from the shadows. She feels momentary contact against her lower legs from something cold and shaggy, but she sees nothing.
Ali whirls about, looking for whatever just touched her. But seeing nothing, she stabs blindly with her rapier.