Symon helps search the room for any valuables
Examining the garderobe, Symon finds an unusual feature - a discrete button disguised as a knot in the wood along the rear wall. Before he considers pressing it, he listens carefully against the northern wall and hears nothing - consulting the map, it is quite likely that the rear of the garderobe backs onto the secret library.
Looking around the rest if the room, little of real value is found although, intriguingly, the wardrobe is locked firmly shut.
"Shall I open this hidden catch to see if it does actually go back to the library? Also I will have a look at that wardrobe as well!"
Perception (traps-take 10): 10+6+1=17
Disable Device (take 10): 10+7=17
"Let us open the wardrobe and move on. Dez may have a crowbar if the fancy way doesn't work."
Still upset over cutting his own leg, Conner doesn't really help search. He instead grips his sword tightly and stands guard.
don't know what came over me. Sawing my leg like that! Can't be overcome like that again....
Symon struggles with the lock until, dismayed at it's complexity, he is forced to concede defeat.
"I am sorry, but this lock is beyond me. Maybe we will need to break it open..but gently."
Luther searches their collection of keys, including the special 'map' key to see if they fit.
If they fail, they will try opening it on the way back. They move to the cave and the West doors.
None of the keys that you currently have seem to fit the box so, leaving it alone for now, the group continues their exploration...
Moving into the cavern and over to the heavy stone door that, marked with a version of Pharasma's sigil, clearly leads to a crypt - Symon pauses to listen but hears nothing.
The ancient stone door opens into a dusty old crypt... cobwebs coat the dark corners of the room. Five stone sepulchres sit in the chamber’s northern and center portions, each is carved with an effigy of a masked man or woman. Whilst, to the south, one large sepulchre lies, its lid apparently secured with iron bands.
...across each of the sepulchres lies a red satin drape, each one delicately embroidered with the image of a skull.
"Something is in the big one. I think it will be something we need to put down. Dez, wanna pop it? Holy water and acid ready?"
As the iron bands are released from the stone coffin and Dezco levers the casket, the heavy lid slides to the side and the decaying body of a glowing eyed humanoid quickly starts to clamber from it's tomb, "Who disturbs my sleep?"
Dezco’s blade, almost as a muscle memory, slashes twice at the undead rising from it’s resting place – his first attack cuts a vicious rend in the torso of the creature but his follow up, an opportunistic attack at best, narrowly misses.
Moving quickly, Symon slashes out with his magical rapier at the undead horror.
Attack-melee:
Damage:
AoO:
Damage:
Symon stabs in at the undead, his first attack piercing deep between the ribs of his opponent…black filth sliding off of his blade as he withdraws it. His second attack is unbalanced and wild…
”I will tear your living hearts from your bodies and render you my unliving slaves!!!”
Lurching at Dezco, the ancient horror slashes wildly with outstretched hands...
Luther waits until all have attempted to fell the creature.
If the creature still stands....
"Abadar cleanse you."
The result is a bit of positive energy.
Drusellia concentrates, sending a tremor of earth beneath the undead abomination.
Spells Remaining: 2
Tremors Remaining: 6
The wight, possibly unsteady on it's feet after being interred for so very long, falls as Drusellia's tremors shake it's sepulchre.
With a mighty swing of his blade, Dezco severs the head from the shoulders of the wight – it’s arms raised in defense are also sliced through as the sword crashes home. Instantly the body starts to crumble and, within seconds, all that remains is a surprisingly small pile of bone dust. In the middle of the dust lies an elaborately decorated pectoral (an armoured collar usually designed to protect the throat and upper chest) made of aged and tarnished gold.
Looking in the coffin after Dezco's tremendous strike, Symon sees the strange item of armor(?) and lifts it out for the others to see.
"Great attack Dezco! that thing did not stand a chance. Look what I found. What is it?"
Luther looks at the collar. "Looks like more magical protection for our pointdwarf."
Dru examines the collar carefully, muttering an arcane phrase and turning it over in her hands.
Drusellia turns the tarnished gold over in her hands, looking for traces of arcane energy, but is eventually forced to concede that it isn't magical and, in fact, is probably no more than a ceremonial piece...
Symon looks over the item to see if it has any monetary worth.
Appraise:
- it is very well crafted...and old...at a guess, you think it would make five hundred gold if sold to the right people...
"More treasure!! Let's move on."
Luther continues to make sure they finish exploring this level before going down.
The cave, from which the doors to the crypt and the temple have led, is of no real interest however, at the northern end of the cave – a tunnel, no more than ten feet high and five feet wide – roughly hewn into the rock – disappears into the darkness. Listening carefully, you can’t hear anything other than the occasional dripping of water.
"This looks like something a dwarf would want to explore."
Luther gives Dezco a wink.
"I'll be right behind you after Symon."
Symon creeps behind Dezco, keeping a watch on anything out of the ordinary.
Perception:
The tunnel, dank and unlit, continues into the earth for quite a way before you realise that you have been gradually climbing. It is difficult to tell just how far you have come - possibly as much as half a mile - when the tunnel opens up into a larger cavern...a cavern stocked with crates and barrels - and, up ahead beyond a corner, a glint of daylight...
Luther talks quietly before they meet the cook. "I have a feeling this will be dangerous, so I need you more protected Dezco. The barkskin is due to wear off soon. Some massive strength would be a good idea too."
Luther casts protection from evil followed by bull's strength on Dezco.
"We can secure this area and rest possibly. The narrow entrance will be easy to defend. I know Dru used a lot of resources, and I am going to make sure our pointdwarf is buffed to the max."
Following along, Conner readies his sword and nods at Dezco.
"ready when you are." he whispers as he moves forward with the dwarf.
Moving further along the cave, towards the sunlight, you start to hear voices... many voices...laughing, joking and then, as one, breaking into song. A raucous and quite obscene song follows - the subject of which appears to be Lady Commander Druvost of Fort Inevitable.
When you get to a safe position, still hidden, you peer out and see five men gathered around a roaring fire - a large animal of some form, turning on a spit above it - the drifting snow in the clearing around the cave entrance appears to have been shovelled to the sides such that a small campsite (there are three tents near the fire) could be established.
Drusellia whispers to the others, "I'm afraid that the stealth afforded my kin eludes me. I'll do the best I can, but expecting me to be stealthy is a lost cause. Still, I think that I have a spell that may assist us, if I can get close enough to use it."
Luther stands still as a statue, ready to rush in with his flail and shield. He motions for Dez to follow her. Remembering Dezco has short legs, he wants him close to the action when the fighting starts.
Conner winces as he moves forward. Definitely more audible than his companions.
Symon readies his rapier and sneaks closer to the singing men.
Stealth:
Luther will not move until the men are aware of their presence, as soon as they are, he prepares to rush in to help Dru. His new plate armor was quite thick and protective, but also quite noisy when he moved.
As the group cautiously move towards the cave entrance, Conner manages to knock over a precariously balanced pile of crates…which lands on Symon causing him to yelp in sudden pain…
The singing abruptly stops and, after a moment, a voice calls out to you, ”Hastenfar? Is that you in there?”
If Dru is within 120 feet and can see the men, she will cast sleep on the largest grouping within 10 feet of one another she can find. Assuming that she cannot see them, she will creep closer to the entrance in an effort to find a target.
Spells Remaining: 1 (if sleep goes off)
Tremors Reamaining: 6