Not waiting for a response, Evelyn will remove the lock, and try to open the crypt just enough for them to gain entrance.
"Anyone got a light?"
Trevor blushes violently as mentions of breaking in are ushered. "I would prefer to stand outside. I understand we must do this, though I wonder if we can't just ask?" Seeing some of the faces change: "I know. I know. Let's just do this!"
He stands watch, nervous.
Hearing everyone bumble around and then break the lock, Arasmes shrugs and wanders over to the open crypt. "I don't have a light, but let me take a look," he mutters to Evelyn. He then peers into the crypt.
Stone stairs lead down into the cold earth and utter darkness. From the dust on the steps, Evelyn can easily make out a set of tracks- likely the Professor's.
DM Screen:
"Now that we're here," Arasmes begins, talking to no one in particular, "I have to admit being a bit confused. The professor came here for some equipment to aid in his researches. I suppose those are his footprints. Now, why are we here? Perhaps I missed something, but wouldn't the professor have already taken whatever it is that is valuable in this crypt?"
Trevor looks at them going down the stairs, hesitating.
Finally, as he looses sight of them in the darkness, he steels himself and moves forward, trying to keep an eye on them. He puts a long stick ending in a bulbous green tip in his belt: "If needed, I have a sunrod."
"If we're all going . . . " Luka trails off, following the others into the crypt. Once inside, his eyes quickly adjust to the dark, bringing some relief from the bright sun. "It is possible, Arasmes, that there is more stored here than the professor was able to take, and there certainly is no harm in checking. Unless, of course, we get caught," Luka adds with a smile. "Here," he says, taking the rod from Trevor, "I wouldn't want you to waste that." Muttering a word, he casts a simple spell, and the sunrod bursts into a cool white light, rather than then warm glow it would typically produce. Satisfied, he hands the rod to back to Trevor. That done, he takes the lead, ahead of the light, moving down the stairs to get a better look around.
Luka, Evelyn and a reluctant Trevor descend into the musty crypt. At the bottom of the stairs you find yourself in a stone chamber, dust covering the floor. The place isn't in the best repair, with cracks lining the floor as the crypt settled. Empty niches line the walls- there are no bodies here that you can see. About 25 feet forward is a stone wall with a door on either side leading further in.
DC 18 Survival:
"Well," Arasmes turns to Alison, "I suppose we have to wait now. How'd you come to know the professor?" Arasmes smiles as he rubs the base of his neck, trying to make conversation so as to appear inconspicuous to any folks wandering the restlands.
Following Luka down the steps, Evelyn removes her sword from it's sheath once she is in side.
"Let me see if I can tell which way the professor went"
Evelyn, kneels down and inspects the tracks, hoping for signs in the dust.
"Interesting, it appears he entered the door on the left, but cam back out the right one."
Evelyn will move to the door on the left and inspect it.
Evelyn finds the door to be heavy, solid stone. Checking the doorframe, she finds no sign of any mechanism or trap.
Trevor's heart is beating so loudly in his chest it seems to deafen him. He wishes to speak but is afraid his voice will betray his feelings. He bends and grabs some dirt from the floor, hoping it would absorb the sweat in his hands.
Luka pats Trevor on the back, steps forward, and tries the door on the left.
"Well Arasmes, it is Arasmes isn't it?" Alison smiles "As I was saying last night, I met the Professor during a difficult time in my life while I was studying to become an Alchemist in Caliphas. Its was thanks to his learning and direction that I'm still here today."
Alison fusses with the buttons of her greatcoat as she talks obviously distracted by her past which draws a bittersweet smile to her lips.
"Sorry I'm not a better conversationalist, it was a painful time and the Professors passing has brought it fresh back to my mind" Alison continues "How about yourself?"
"I don't know. I'm not sure why the professor contacted me. I can see the fellows with the swords, or Evelyn–she seems like she can handle herself in a fight. But me? I was just a student of his a few years ago. A bad one at that. He was encouraging, but I . . . had other interests than my studies. I dropped out. Got into trouble. I suppose its the typical story for a young man who inherited his father's money and none of his sense. I was hoping the professor could sort a few things out for me. Help me turn my life around, but all this . . . I guess I should just take off and leave all this mucking around in crypts and protecting the professor's daughter to the professionals. . . " Arasmes trails off and then glances around quickly.
"I don't know what he had in mind so I can't say for sure but perhaps the professor named you in the will because he saw something in you that even you don't see in yourself" Alison smiles "Then again I could be completely off base and perhaps he named you as a random whim... Though I personally don't believe that, I think he had purpose in summoning us to Ravengro and asking us to stay"
Inside the Mausoleum
Through the left door you enter a shallow extension of the previous chamber; you can even see the other door opposite. Ten feet opposite, a flight of stone steps descends into darkness. After looking over the room and the stairs, you determine that it is safe. The Professor's tracks lead below, into a wider room dominated in the rear half by a raised platform bearing a stone sarcophagus. There are few other furnishings in the room and the Professor's footsteps lead straight up to the sarcophagus.
In the Restlands.
Arasmes and Alison stand outside in the warm sun while a breeze blows through the Restlands. Though he looks about now and then, Arasmes seems distracted. A few mourners walk the paths, perhaps finding this an agreeable day to pay their respects. Finally, the young scholar's attention fixes on a gravedigger several meters in the distance. He studies the two of you and then turns and walks toward the Restlands' southern entrance.
Alison's Perception:
While Arasmes notices the gravedigger, Alison's attention wanders toward their right where there are two mourners walking among the graves, a man and a woman. They seem... drunk or sick. They stumble and stagger through the converted moorlands, their clothes dirty and torn. Something must have happened, you think... until the man looks up and you can see that he's missing an eyeball and most of his nose and ears, pale worms falling from his face.
Seeing the gravedigger making his exit, Arasmes turns to Alison. "I think we may have been spotted," he says trying to point out the withdrawing man.
Seeing the gravedigger making his exit, Arasmes turns to Alison. "I think we may have been spotted," he says trying to point out the withdrawing man.
"Oh dog's breath!" Alison curses loudly "Zombies!"
Having given her companion that detailed description of the troubles Alison will reach into a pocket on her great coat, mix what appear to be metal shavings into a vial and then top it off with water before giving it a quick shake and hurling it at the closer of the two shamblers.
Throw -
Potential Damage -
Splash Damage is 4/Reflex for half
Seeing a new pair of steps, Trevor wants to offer getting the others before moving on, but his throat is wrung like an old rag and he can't get the words out. His mouth is as dry as his hands are moist as he stumbles excruciatingly slowly down the stairs.
He relaxes a bit when he sees the sarcophagus instead of another flight of stairs and takes a moment to look around.
Evelyn will begin making her way down and over to the sarcophagas
"If this is a flase crypt, there shouldn't be any body in there, right?"
DM Screen:
Perception DC 15 (inside crypt):
"I would guess that is where any equipment is, or was, kept," Luca says, moving across the small room to the sarcophagus.
"Oh dog's breath!" Alison curses loudly "Zombies!"
Having given her companion that detailed description of the troubles Alison will reach into a pocket on her great coat, mix what appear to be metal shavings into a vial and then top it off with water before giving it a quick shake and hurling it at the closer of the two shamblers.
** spoiler omitted **
Alison's bomb over flies over the slouching zombie's shoulder, missing it's head by a hair. It hurtles a bit further before blasting up a shower of dirt and toppling a gravestone.
Zombie initiative:
Evelyn turns around from the sarcophagus just in time to see two red centipedes as long as a man slip under the doors and rear up behind Trevor and Luka!
Centipede initiative:
hearing a noise behind her, Evelyn turns around to see the centipedes. She calls out a warning to her companions.
"Behind you! Seems this palce is infested"
Arasmes grabs his spear. "How many more of those bombs do you have? I've never really used this thing before."
Luka draws his sword and attacks the other centipede.
"By the Lady! What is that!"
Trevor lets his axe crash down on the closest centipede, trying to cut it in half.
He reacts quickly, but anticipates wrongly the insect's movement. The axe crashes loudly on the floor.
In the crypt.
Trevor and Luka spin at Evelyn's warning to see the centipedes closing in on them. Trevor lashes out on reflex, unfortunately attacking the spot the cetipede used to stand in. Luka's luck is better; he stabs the insect's vulnerable underbelly, pushing his blade through to its back. Its mate descends on Trevor, biting at the young man's face.
Bite vs. Trevor (not flat-footed):
Its disgusting kiss leaves a welt on his cheek, but is mostly deflected by his leather helm. Evelyn runs forward with her falchion and hacks the beast in half; it falls to the floor with a squeal.
Initiative- Restlands
Arasmes:
Alison:
Zombies: 18
The zombies close in on Alison and Arasmes, shambling slowly forward out of the haze of shapes in the young scholar's vision. Arasmes bravely pushes the spearhead into a rotted gut, but for all the good it does he may as well have gently pushed him. The scent of gravedirt and rot assails your senses.
"Well done Luka. Now that we've had our morning exercise, let's see what we have here. And to think, Alison and Arasmes are missing all the fun."
Evelyn truns to the sarcophagus and looks it over for any symbols or writings. She kneels and inspects the lid for any latch or lock.
Luka nods as he pulls a rag out from under his coat and wipes his sword. "Yes, that was a bit of excitement," he says as he watches Evelyn look over the sarcophagus. "Trevor, are you okay?"
"I got stung!!! But I think I'm okay..." Trevor's voice is shaking as he replaces his helmet and keeps putting a hand on his bruise, checking to see if it would grow. He bends and also looks at the sarcophagus.
Arasmes continues to futilely stab at the zombie.
Inside the crypt
The sarcophagus is unremarkable and seems safe to open.
When you pull away the heavy lid, you discover a large cache of useful equipment:
- A dozen silver arrows
- Four sun rods
- six flasks of holy water bearing Pharasma's symbol on the stopper
- ten finely fletched and balanced arrows
- five arrows with the holy symbol of Pharasma carved into the head
- two more arrows with arrowheads carved from an ivory material that could only be bone
- five blue potions in stoppered vials
- two clear potions in stoppered vials
- a bundle of three scrolls and
- A thin darkwood case decorated with an image of a scarab with a single eye glaring from the back
Well this definetly qualifies as undead hunting tools. Luka, can you make anything out of these scrolls or potions?"
Evelyn will examine the arrows, and then carefully pack stow them.
"We should be able to arm ourselves pretty well with these, time to get back to the others?"
Restlands, round 2
The male zombie moans and flails his limbs at Alison while the female does the same to Arasmes.
Zombie 1 vs. Alison:
Zombie 2 vs. Arasmes:
Arasmes sets his spear and jams it into his assailant. While the point breaks her tough flesh with a thump, it feels more like stabbing a piece of wood than something that was alive.
With a bit of concern on his face, Trevor asks, with an hesitant voice: "D- Do we really need all of these? From what I understand, someone else might count on these in the future. I would offer that we take about half of what's here..."
Well this definetly qualifies as undead hunting tools. Luka, can you make anything out of these scrolls or potions?"
Evelyn will examine the arrows, and then carefully pack stow them.
"We should be able to arm ourselves pretty well with these, time to get back to the others?"
"Yes, I can probably make something out, given a little time," Luka says, "but let's take whatever we think we may possibly need. The undead are not easy to battle." With a nod towards Trevor, he adds, "We can leave some, but I'd rather be overly prepared. We can also return what we don't use, and after receiving our bequests, can donate to the church to replenish what we've used. Besides, the professor's tracks are the only ones we've seen. It doesn't seem like they get much in the way of undead walking around in this cemetery."
Luka packs the holy water, potions, scrolls, and box into his backpack, leaving the arrows and sunrods for Evelyn. "I'd suggest we get back up top and return to Kendra's to take inventory, and then move on to Harrowstone."