Justinian continues to hold the small symbol around his neck. "As do I." he says in reply to Asta's statement.
"I shouldn't have walked in upprepared milady. Though I should have expected something foul. But the question is now. Do we go further in?" She watches the entrance as she says this, hand still on her blade.
"No, nevermind... Having thought it over she focuses her resolve and steps before the cave entrance once more. "We must go in. Or we need to seal this, lest some soul enters and finds there death within or worse... something comes out.." She thinks for a moment on anything of use she may have heard about this area, anything that could prove useful in identifying what they had found. But as the General she couldn't ignore anything that could threaten the citizens.
"Also, Sunset..." She glance to her mysterious companion, smiling slightly. "When we get back to the city, I would love to understand your trade more. Especially how you make your 'soothin's. If you don't mind~"
Seraph is in the entrance, examining the walls but doesn't delve further lest the others wish to go or they decide on an alternate plan.
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Seraph stands ready at the entrance, any knowledge of this placed or what lies within has long since passed from living memory lost to the ages. The only clues are in the crude mosaics on the walls of the octagonal chamber depicting simple village life of hunting, fishing and farming.
The place feels old, very old.
"Be more cautious as we investigate the cave." Torod advises Seraph as he trades his bow for his nearly forgotten sword.
"These Mural's may indicate something that predates the known history of the Stolen Lands." She stays close to the entrance but runs her hand across the wall gently. Feeling the crude mosaic as she tries to discern who these people were. Though the age was more then apparent and outside her area of expertise.
This place piqued her interest even more but it also filled her with a sense of dread. Old places sometimes had more then old texts and items of ancient technology. "This place is old..." Her tail was wagging about slowly, her interest piqued and her senses tingling at the possibility of finding an artifact.
At Torod's words she snaps back to attention. "Understood, I will lead the way, I can see in the dark after all. Though I suggest you keep a fair distance between us, in case there are traps." She smiles as her eyes glow in the darkness of the ancient tunnel.
She didn't worry about stealth, their noisy combat outside was probably easily overhead by anything within. She kept her large blade ready and proceeded forward only when the group was ready.
In the lull that has settled ever so briefly over the group as the initial adrenaline of the bat encounter fades Sunset does naught but nod at Seraph's comment, the tanned Half-Elf's eyes looking around at the chamber every one finds themselves in. The smell of the previous dwellers not seeming to effect Sunset.
Sunset steps adroitly around Justinian and, removing her hat with a polite nod, looks more for loose stones/paving work and holes rather than the faded ocher smeared over the place.
Coming to briefly stand besides the large Seraph Sunset's gaze peers off down into the dark tunnel/passage ahead.
"Well... me shooter's will be a tad useful initially... Long as me sparkles be about." She frowns, "Don't much think lettin' off powder down in this hole be a good idea."" Sunset glances to Seraph and then back towards every one else. "Tha' stuff is... loud..." She explains then shrugs.
"Still, can't be helped." She adjusts her stance, feet shoulder width apart, both hands now gripping her small weapon though keeping it pointed at the floor. She begins to edge sideways slowly around the edge of the room.
"Guns up. Don't swagger off too far ahead. Be ready to move backwards ta' this place... or any where like it we find. Give our self's more room fer movin', like." She gives her thoughts voice about tactics and actions.
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despite the pitch black of the underground passage, both Seraph and Sunset can see using their darkvision. The other heroes are blind as a dead crispy bat, unless they have some light or other way to see in the dark.
Both Seraph and Sunset see the passage continue from this chamber opening into another chamber a little ways ahead.
Torod casts Light on Strawberry Deathstrike causing her a brilliant glow which fits with her celestial heritage as she stalks about. He then lights a torch for himself.
Sunset sidles up to the edge of the room, risking a glance further down the corridor with a quick shift of her head before spinning in place and lining her weapon along the corridor's length in a two handed grip.
She glances to Seraph, nods in the affirmative and waits.
Seraph nods to Sunset and moves down the corridor, staying along the side wall and tried to keep her wits about her.
She moved up to the next corridor and took a look around, she wasn't concerned about being quiet at this point and focused more on expediency.
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Torod cast light on Strawberry.
Seraph moves up to the next corridor. She sees four tunnels exit this circular chamber in the cardinal directions. On each of the walls between the tunnel entrances are four large monstrous faces carved from stone that leer and grimace. In the middle of the room, partially embedded in in the thinning carpet of bat guano is a decade body only rotten rags and bone remain.
Sunset catches a flash of light reflected from a metal ring still on the corp’s finger.
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Sliding up along the wall... gun out and moving to follow Sunset's gaze... the Half-Elf comes to a stop just behind Seraph. Kneeling Sunset also scans the room.
"Wonderful decore about tha' place." She indicates the remains.
"Might wan'a be careful, lest whut t'ever t'was met that feller meet us."
"A-yup... feelin' right Theo-logical about now. Could use some guidance like tha' divine..." Sunset opines. She glances to Seraph,
"Ye've no sudden over whelmin' compunction fer fightin' a good fight an' standin' yer ground an' what not?" Sunset asks the large woman casually.
"We're all good to run like tha' clappers, should tha' need suddenly come upon us, like?"
"No, but I will protect Asta and all of you. If it means making a stand then I will." She grips her sword, glad that there was room to swing it in the large area, though she was looking down each corridor warily.
She looks to the decayed body. "Probably a trap. I don't like these leering faces. Not a bit Sunset." She points to the faces. "But I think we should sweep to the right here, clear this room and then head left before going further in." She nods to the corridor.
"I'll go first. I'll see whats ahead and come back." She heads to the right, slowly and carefully watches her surroundings for anymore leering or otherwise threatening shapes on or around the corridor.
She leans out to look down the southern cooridor, skirting along the edge of the chamber to avoid getting close to the decayed corpse.
Torod and Strawberry follow Seraph from several feet away.
Justinian follows along with the others. He too, is dependent on the light on Strawberry. He hefts his shield and sword, and looks about him at the strange markings in the dim light.
Hearing the others a distance behind her she speaks quietly as she continued to look down the southern Corridor. "Stay against the walls."
"Damn right bein' aginst tha' walls, luv." Replies Sunset, not shifting her position where she's taken up 'guard' as every one else slowly begins to move forwards.
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SunsetMoves up help Seraph.
Thinking the decaying body is a trap, Seraph move forward to look down the right corridor.
Torod, Strawberry and Justinian follow the others.
Moving deeper into the center chamber causes a rustling sound of a hundred hollow sticks scraping floors and walls to echo throughout the chambers and a dozen human skeletons come pouring out of the side chambers to engage the intruders.
Skeletons move.
Sunset
Doran
Seraph
Asta
Torod
Skeletons
"Ah... nertz..."
And lets fly with bolts of energy from her small hand weapon.
"Gon'a have ta' get me a better gun...." She mutters.
Justinian, following the advice of Seraph, stays close to the wall, behind her. When the undead claw their way forward, he holds his symbol aloft.
"Iomedae, shed the light of Justice on these abominations!" he cries, and a pulse of cyan energy bursts forth from his upraised hand.
When the Skeletons came swarming out she moved to fight, hoping to keep them contained in the side corridor as best she could. She struck with all her might at the closest skeleton before moving up to block the corridor.
With her first opponent crushed she moves to block the corridor. Hoping that the undead skeletal warriors amassed on her instead of trying to push past...
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Sunset destroys one skeleton with her magic fire.
Stepping up Doran show that he is strong with the power of Iomedae as the holy energy obliterates most of the unholy skeletons turning them to dust.
Seraph ready’s her attack, but is short of foes thanks to Iomedae.
Round 1:
Sunset - touch spell
Doran - channel
Seraph
Asta
Torod
Skeletons
Strawberry leaps at a skeleton.
Bite: tiger aspect
to hit to hurt trip
Confirm Crit: tiger aspect
to hit to hurt
Torod comes in behind his feline companion slashing a skeleton with his scimitar.
Scimitar:
to hurt
Seeing theventire corridor of foes before her shatter she goves a shout of joy. "Excellent work Justinian! Refocusing her energy she mlves back across the room. Readying herself to defend against the last of the skeletal warriors.
Justinian nods at Seraph as she rushes past him toward the other end of the corridor. "Trust in the Light of Iomedae."
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Strawberry leaps in and crushes one of the skeleton’s in it’s vice like jaws.
Not to be outdone by his companion, Torod moves up striking at the remaining skeleton only to have his sharp scimitar slip between the bones doing minimal damage.
Asta Still guarding the entrance, she delays her action.
The lone skeleton strikes at Torod with both claws.
to hit damage
to hit damage
Another dead creature wielding a broken scimitar comes in a lumbering charge out of the center corridor fiercely moaning ”Intuuuderrrrs, usssuperrrrs!” as it attacks Doran
to hit damage plus 1 energy drain
Fortunately for the party all attacks missed.
Round 2:
Sunset -
Doran -
Seraph
Asta
Torod
Skeleton - 1 dam.
Sunset strides across the room, gun swinging to train on the threats still standing.
At hearing words coming out of one of the shamblers her eyebrows raise.
"Well.. that's somat ye dun't hear every day."
Torod adjusts his position and slashes the skeleton.
Scimitar:
to hurt
Strawberry goes after the next skeleton
Bite: tiger aspect
to hit to hurt trip
Claw: tiger aspect
to hit to hurt
Claw: tiger aspect
to hit to hurt
"I am really not at my best against the undead," Asta says, sighing.
Hearing the skeleton speak, the Winter Witch raises herself to her full height and shouts: ""
If the undead ignore her and any of them comes within her reach, Asta swings her quarterstaff at the wretched thing.
Staying clear of the corpse she moves back to Doran, who was now covered in darkness and under attack. She brought her blade around with a powerful swing, hoping to cleave the undead in twain.
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Sunset Moves in to gain a better position.
Torod slashes and misses as the skeleton dodges out of the swords path right into the jaws of Strawberry who crushes the bones to dust.
Moving up from the entrance, Asta calls on the undead to yield.
It turns its head to glare at her with cold dead eye sockets and horsley counters ”I ruled this land long before you young yelp. My brother tried to take my land and sword after my death, but he died at my hands. Only by conquest will you take it from me and death hasn’t stopped me!”
Moving up Seraph takes a swing at the dead warrior who easily evades her large sword as it slashes down.
The warrior hisses at Doran, ”Let's see if Iomedae can save you now priest!”
Round 2:
Sunset -
Doran -
Seraph
Asta
Torod
Warrior
Justinian smiles grimly. "Better than you have tried, lost king in a forgotten tomb. Tried...and died. Feel now her Light..." Once again he holds his sword aloft, holy power bursting forth.
No fool, Justinian shifts to the right, trying to set up flanking attacks with Seraph.
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The undead's will is strong resisting the part of Iomedae's good energy, the warrior shifts 5 feet as he attacks Doran with the broken scimitar hitting the Cleric. The warrior's strike siphons a bit of Doran's life force energizing the undead's vitality, it smiles "Ahh, soon all your life energy will be mine!"
to hit damage plus 1 energy drain
Possible Critical
damage and a second 1 energy drain
Round 3:
Sunset -
Doran - 11 dam -5 max Hp, 1 level of energy drain
Seraph
Asta
Torod
Warrior - 6 dam, +5 temporary HP.
For each negative level a creature has, it takes a cumulative –1 penalty on all ability checks, attack rolls, combat maneuver checks, Combat Maneuver Defense, saving throws, and skill checks. In addition, the creature reduces its current and total hit points by 5 for each negative level it possesses. The creature is also treated as one level lower for the purpose of level-dependent variables (such as spellcasting) for each negative level possessed. Spellcasters do not lose any prepared spells or slots as a result of negative levels. If a creature's negative levels equal or exceed its total Hit Dice, it dies.
A creature with temporary negative levels receives a new saving throw to remove the negative level each day. The DC of this save is the same as the effect that caused the negative levels.
Seraph raises her holy symbol, invoking Arshea's favor and cladding her in the strength of her faith. Her feminine curves and toned body standing out more as she growled at the undead warrior. "Milady asked you to stand down. Mainly because these lands are ours and your kingdom is no more. If you wish to denounce our claim then come at me!"
Sunset simply takes a step back and sights down her arm at the undead.
"Here, Gabby! Sorry we in't bin properly introduced like, but 'ave ye got any other mates like ye self down here? Or are we negotiatin' with tha' person of note an' singularity?" Sunset asks.
"An' I thought tha' bats was bad enough...." (¬_¬)
Upon seeing her weapon have less effect than she'd like Sunset remarks,
"Folks? Be feelin' free to aggressively disabuse this feller of any further notions he has towards violence and such."
The woodsman goes at the undead. "Return to your rest."
Scimitar:
to hurt
The glowing, shining, feminine form of Strawberry Deathstrike attacks the undead king.
Bite: tiger aspect, flank
to hit to hurt trip
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Seraph calls upon Arshea divine favor and demands the undead stand down.
Shifting back Sunset burns the warrior with her elemental ray.
The warrior chuckles hoarsely at Seraph and Sunset "My name is long past, I was a warlord once. After I fell, my brother laid me to rest in this tomb with my loyal guardsmen, but he thought he could kept my sword for his own! You shall die as he did!"
Moving up to attack, Torod triggers a trap by moving into the center 10 foot area of the room.
The four faces of stone carved in the center of each wall seem to inhale deeply, then breathe out black tendrils of mist that each seek out a creature sapping its strength.
Disrupted by the trap, Torod’s attack misses.
Strawberry comes rushing in biting the warrior’s rear damaging its unlife force, but failing to trip it.
Round 3:
Sunset - Exhausted/Fatigued?
Doran - 16 dam, 1 level of energy drain
Seraph - Exhausted/Fatigued?
Asta
Torod
Warrior - 6+2+7-5 temp = 10 dam
For each negative level a creature has, it takes a cumulative –1 penalty on all ability checks, attack rolls, combat maneuver checks, Combat Maneuver Defense, saving throws, and skill checks. In addition, the creature reduces its current and total hit points by 5 for each negative level it possesses. The creature is also treated as one level lower for the purpose of level-dependent variables (such as spellcasting) for each negative level possessed. Spellcasters do not lose any prepared spells or slots as a result of negative levels. If a creature's negative levels equal or exceed its total Hit Dice, it dies.
A creature with temporary negative levels receives a new saving throw to remove the negative level each day. The DC of this save is the same as the effect that caused the negative levels.
"Gabby, ye be all kinds of unpleasant..." Sunset adds an insult into the fray. She grimaces as the effects take hold.
Broken blades still bite, but it's the power of his lifeforce being sucked from him that staggers Justinian. He steps back, and casts a defensive spell to better prepare himself.
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Asta delays
Doran steps back and prays for Iomedae to shield him.
The undead warrior shifts and attacks a exhausted Sunset, ”Submit to me and become my new lieutenants!” His slash misses.
to hit damage plus 1 energy drain
Round 4:
Sunset - Exhausted -6 Str & -6 Dex
Doran - 16 dam, 1 level of energy drain
Seraph - Fatigued -2 Str & -2 Dex
Asta
Torod
Warrior - 10 dam
For each negative level a creature has, it takes a cumulative –1 penalty on all ability checks, attack rolls, combat maneuver checks, Combat Maneuver Defense, saving throws, and skill checks. In addition, the creature reduces its current and total hit points by 5 for each negative level it possesses. The creature is also treated as one level lower for the purpose of level-dependent variables (such as spellcasting) for each negative level possessed. Spellcasters do not lose any prepared spells or slots as a result of negative levels. If a creature's negative levels equal or exceed its total Hit Dice, it dies.
A creature with temporary negative levels receives a new saving throw to remove the negative level each day. The DC of this save is the same as the effect that caused the negative levels.
Sunset steps back, away from the slashing blade.
"Here, ye need a better sales pitch than that, Gabby." She does her best to sound calm and untroubled,
"Whut be tha' benefits then? I can see by yer state there in't nuffin' in said plans about lookin' after a girls' figure a'tall..." She drawls, indicating the un-dead warriors own ragged physique even as she steps away yet again.
As her body suffers from fatigue Seraph starts to slowly lose control of her killing instinct. Her muscles swell and steam rises from her exposed sinew. Revealing to all how she can wield such a large blade. At the undeads words she laughs darkly swinging the blade as if to cut the undeads feeble offer. "You are found wanting dead one and..." She grips the sword in both hands and moves to flank the undead with Strawberry her glowing eyes burning crimson in the darkness. "... so you will fall for Asta's dream!" She swung the blade overhead, intending to cleave the dead man in half.