Revery holds out his club and says, "Take it!" to Kwen. Thinking for a split second, he considers Gwen's advice. His spells seemed ineffective against this thing, as did his club, so he looks in the direction the man had pointed indicating a third companion. Avoiding more combat, he leaves the club with Kwen and moves toward the alleged third person (withdraw action).
(Mana: 78/90)
Sajeek attacks once again with no real effect. He snarls at Bast to get back.
Both men stop in their tracks as the skeletal creature rushes straight at them at a sprint.
The sudden opening of the creature's defences is exploited by the melee combatants (AoO incurred), but while some of the blows are potentially telling it is not sufficient to bring down the tireless monstrosity.
Returning from whence it came, the undead skeleton continues past the men, as if they weren't even there, and keeps running until it is out of sight.
(end of combat)
The men, leaning on each other with exhaustion, stop in their tracks and shake their heads. "Vlen fell under the creature's onslaught, we must rescue him, or at least recover his body for proper burial." These men will only slow you down, and that says a lot considering that Nogglegrop is generally outpaced by elderly snails.
Revery looks for "Vlen" in the direction he is already going (where the man had pointed).
Even atop the largest hill around, only grass-topped hills can be seen in each direction. The distances of the Karanas are nigh unfathomable.
These men are completely exhausted, likely from fleeing from this creature, so it is no surprise to you that the distance to the place where Vlen fell is a distance away.
The blood-covered duo move to follow the direction that the skeleton departed in, and while they think it is east it is obviously northwest.
Gwendalyn takes one last swing at the undead monstrosity, frustrated that she didn't have any way to block its retreat and remove its threat forever; it was slow going, but she was certain that she would've outlasted it. "We don't know how far Vlen is, so let's not split up again; but in case he's still alive, let's do like in Toxxulia, to get there faster. Kwen, here's my tent; Noggy, ready for another ride?"
...Damage:
Kwen nods at Gwen's words, then picks up his now bent scimitar, and the club that Revery handed him. Picking up Gwen's tent, and hoisting it onto his back he asks "Well that was fun." Getting ready to follow the others, he gives a sigh at the annoyance of fighting undead creatures. " At least it wasn't a giant or two, I know I'm sick of running into them." The rogue says with a hint of disgust in his tone.
Nogglegrop shakes his head, "I will only slow you down. Leave me any bags that will slow your pace. I will remain with these two, for they are beyond exhausted and only remain standing due to stubbornness." The cleric moves to the duo and rather forcefully cajoles them to sit down and rest.
The gnome provides introductions on the party's side, and learns that the noble's name is Prost and the peasant's name is Swenj. Vlen fell perhaps as much as a mile or two "east" from the group's present location. It will be a rather easy task of tracking the skeleton backwards, if the party left quick enough, or rather slower if they decide to follow the two blood trails.
Kwen is able to counter the bend of the scimitar, though it has a bit of a dogleg to it (no statistical affect).
It is a lovely afternoon closer to the highest point of the sun than the time of dinners.
Gwendalyn looks at Noggy searchingly, and sees only concern for others. "Very well. Keep safe! Never mind about the tent, Kwen." She drops her bedding and lantern as well, keeping the backpack itself this time. "We have a skeleton to follow!"
Gathering himself up, Sajeek reaches down and scratches Bast's ears. The tiger had slinked over to the vah shir, his ears folded tight against his skull.
"Your fine. I'm an idiot, that's all. Sorry I growled at you," the Beastlord comments quietly to his warder.
With that said, he turns to follow the skeleton. It seems that they were going to find the two humans dead friend. For a proper burial, a concept which had always seemed foolish to him. The dead don't really care. There dead after all. He would have happy to never see that skeleton again.
A sigh escapes his furry lips as he eyes the running undead creature. He supposes that it will be guarding the body of the human's friends, and they'll have to distract it to get the body back.
Nogglegrop stoically stands atop the closest hill watching the group depart. Realizing that he was calling attention to the two exhausted men, he instead ducks down into the tall grass and keeps watch. They were spent, but the healing magics appeared to have taken the majority of the sting from their wounds.
You soon lose sight of your cleric, and are catching only intermittent flashes of the undead as it momentarily crests higher ground. While your breath comes quicker you are positive that the skeleton will run tirelessly forever, and it runs as quickly as any of you (30' base speed).
...and then it is simply gone, and you are forced to track sporadic rivulets of drying blood.
Wilderness Lore (Gwendalyn):
Wilderness Lore (Sajeek):
Your progress comes to a screeching halt as you are forced to track and backtrack until you find a bearing to follow.
The blood leads you to who you imagine can only be Vlen, His corpse has had its chest ripped open and heart devoured. It, for the departure of the spirit has relegated what was Vlen to nothing more than a thing, lays next to a deep hole. Tied to a nearby tree is a hemp rope, which descends into the depths of darkness.
You imagine it to be a hundred foot long rope, which leaves you to estimate that it descends just over 40' into the ground.
Revery stops stock still, since he heard something. At first he think of it only as a trick of the wind, but holding he breath and focusing on hearing reveals the truth. A soft whimpering can be heard from within the hole.
Listen (Gwendalyn):
Listen (Kwen):
Listen (Revery):
Listen (Sajeek):
A search of the area reveals nothing untoward.
Spot (Gwendalyn):
Spot (Kwen):
Spot (Revery):
Spot (Sajeek):
"There is another, down there. Whimpering.... I think we need to find out the truth of what happened here, from those back there. " Revery points the direction they came from.
"... after we help whoever is down there. I wonder if the undead went back in there?"
"Well, Prost can't tell the difference between east and northwest, so maybe he can't tell the difference between a skeleton and a ghoul. Or maybe he can. Who heard of a skeleton that eats hearts?"
"Indeed.
I think Kwen or Sajeek could climb down. They are nimble, and smaller than you Gwendalyn. I can make one invisible, and I may also casts a charm to see through your eyes, if you don't mind..." Revery says, sagely.
"Perhaps we should shine a light down first. I could also grant a little protection to whoever goes down." She prepares to cast Inner Fire.
"What a lovely hole we have discovered," Sajeek mutters, looking downing into the black depths. "Umm, I guess I'll go first. I think I can take a hit a little better then Kwen, that's the only reason." Sajeek looks over at the half-elf. "You look a little scrawny," he says with a lop-sided grin.
Th vah shir's emerald gaze falls back into the hole. Eyeing the rope that leads drops into the emptiness, Sajeek looks back at his friends.
"I have a lantern. If anybody has any extra rope, Rev or Gwen could lower the light while we climb down," Sajeek says as he pokes Kwen in the arm. Thinking for a few seconds, the Beastlord turns and looks down at Bast. "And you luck out. You get to stay up here and keep an eye on those two." Sajeek rubs the bridge of the tigers broad nose.
"Okay, are you absolutely sure you heard someone whimpering down there?" Sajeek asks Revery. "Because I if climb down to get chewed on by some monster, I'm not going to be happy. Mostly because I'll be getting chewed on. Not high on the list of things I enjoy."
"I do not promise there will not be a ghoul to chew on you. But I did hear that sound. Now, do you want to be invisible?" Revery casts his spell upon Sajeek without waiting for an answer.
Then he looks around, wondering if there's a lid, or door, or if this hole is newly dug or has been around for a while as-is.
Invisibility 5 mana
Mana: 73/90
Kwen had dropped the tent off with the gnome, letting the cleric watch over the two men. Trying not to fret about what could happen to the gnome while the party ran off after the skeleton. Getting the body back should be a trick of it's own, after all a mindless thing getting distracted would mean that two people would have to fight it, staying out of it's reach, while the other's dragged the body away.
Losing sight of the creature was getting to be a common theme for the group, not enjoying the fact that this was already proving to be a troublesome day. After spending time tracking it and finding the hole in the ground, and nothing else. Kwen says " Lovely, well Sajeek I also have something that will aid you in climbing, if you want to use it let me know, as for an extra rope, sorry that got um... misplaced sometime ago. Besides light for us shouldn't be too much of an issue, if you don't want to use the kit I've got not qualms about it."
Kwen slides his back pack from his shoulders, setting it to the ground, he starts to dig into the main compartment. Finding his kit at the bottom, he pulls it out, laying on the ground for Sajeek to consider.
Every single undead creature on Norrath can see through traditional invisibility spells, but Kwen and Sajeek don't know that, so they feel better to have a modicum of protection should the skeleton be waiting for them at the bottom of the hole.
No door or lid can be seen, neither can hinges or any sign that this is a man-made construction. If anything it looks like a giant gopher's hole, or something made by a sinkhole. Grass grows around the hole, and it gives the impression of being like this for a long time.
The rope awaits (please include a DC 10 climb check in your next post).
Gwendalyn casts a spell on Sajeek and then lights his lantern, having left her own with Nogglegrop. (Inner Fire, +1 insight AC, +3 buff hp, 34/50 mana) She ties it to her silk rope, lowers it down the hole carefully, and peers down. "Can any of you see anything?"
Sajeek looks around the hole to see if anything had torn up the grass. Like a pair of skeletal hands, for instance. Grabbing hold of the rope, he tugs it a few times to make sure it is tied tightly to the stump.
Bast had made a confused sounding growl when Sajeek had disappeared.
"It's okay, I'm still here," Sajeek reassures the tiger. "You get to stay up here. Don't gnaw on anyone while I'm gone." The tigers ears move as Sajeek scratches Bast's head.
As he starts down the rope, his voice can be heard, but Sajeek remains hidden from sight thanks to Rev's spell.
"What can I see? A whole lot of dark at the moment," his grin can be heard.
"Waaaahhhhh!" Comes the surprised sound from Sajeek as his voice suddenly begins to retreat. "AAhaaaahaahoieee!"
Falling, Sajeek tries to grab for the robe, but having invisible hands makes that a little hard. Or nearly impossible. Fortunately, Sajeek's body knew what to do in these types of situations.
The vah shir angles himself to attempt to slow his fall down. Or at least absorb some of the shock from the impact. A though pops into his head as he falls. 'I hate climbing, why did I volunteer for this?' Growing up in the jungles of Luclin, he had fallen out of many trees. So at least he has had experience falling.
You would guess that this is a sinkhole, and there is no sign that the hole was torn open. The rope is sturdy and securely-tied to the nearby tree.
The invisible Sajeek starts on his way down the rope, but his hand immediately starts to slip (failure within 5 of target DC results in no progress). He knows that he can simply hold on tighter, and continue descending in the traditional fashion, but he relies on his training and simply lets go. The beastlord had never fallen so far, especially into the depths of blackness (-5 circumstance negative since the landing is blind).
Sure as s#$* this means of finding the bottom will be a surprise to whatever lives at the bottom of the hole.
The fall is just over 43', but Sajeek is easily prepared for the distance (safe fall result doubled for a controlled fall, provides 42' subtracted from the fall, no damage), but not the pool of shin-deep fluid he lands in.
For a moment all is metallic wetness, darkness and confusion. The sound of his splash was surely heard back on Luclin, as is the beastlord's pounding heart. He is lucid enough to know that he is standing right where Kwen will land if the rogue falls, or decides to follow suit in simply dropping off.
Giving a moment for the sensations around him to register he smells the nearly overwhelming copper taste of blood, and recognizes that the water he is in is thick. 'Neath the surface is an uneven ground of softness. The smell of meat rotting nearly overwhelms the beastlord. It is then he hears the whimpering that Revery had heard from the surface.
As the lantern descends Sajeek can finally see around him. He is in an oval chamber, perhaps 20' wide and twice that long. The ceiling is not much more than 7' high, and there is perhaps 30 corpses here, counting the ones he is standing upon. The beastlord is covered in blood and he stands shin deep in it as well.
A cramped hole is the only other exit from this chamber.
Now that he could see, Sajeek wished that he couldn't. The smell had been bad enough, so pungent one could taste the blood. Spitting, Sajeek realizes that the copper taste of blood filled his mouth. The lantern spun slightly on the silk rope, making the shadows dance and the bodies seem to writhe. The vah shir has a moment of sheer terror.
Looking up, he sees Bast looking back down at him. He draws on the tiger's strength. Bast wouldn't be scared. He's be pissed that his fur was messy. With a glance at his own fur, Sajeek's stomach flip-flopped. He was soaked in blood. And gore. And the spirits only know what else.
Taking a few steps out of the way, Sajeek suddenly retches. His body didn't give him any warning, vomit just spews out of his mouth. After several long second of throwing up his stomach lining, Sajeek spits a couple of times get the taste of stomach acid out of his mouth.
"I'm okay!" He calls back up to the others that peek down from the opening. "It's not good down here. Not at all." The vah shir looks around the chamber and sees the cramped hole in the twisting light. It was the only place the whimpering could be coming from. "Yup, this confirms it, the spirits are out to get me for fleeing Luclin," Sajeek mutters as he takes a step forward. His legs don't want to move. "Come on legs, move!" Sajeek commands his stubborn limbs.
As the vah shir starts to move over the pile of corpses, putting the fact that he was climbing over rotten, leaking meat as he does so. He tries to avoid looking at the ruins of faces. He tries to avoid wondering how they died. He tries to ignore the looks of fear in milky white staring eyes. His nightmares were going to be epic over the next few months. If not years.
Stepping through a mess of limbs Sajeek looks at the small, cramped hole.
"Hello? Are you alright?" Sajeek calls out. 'That's a stupid question for me to ask,' he thinks. "I'm here to help you," Sajeek speaks again. 'I really hope this wan't a really bad idea. It really seems like it was.' the Beastlord thinks as he listens for a response. Or movement.
No answer comes back to Sajeek.
It is as if the stench had a life of its own, and as soon as the beastlord had pierced the invisible cloud it had rolled out across the surface above. Those above, especially Kwen, as he starts his descent, and Gwendalyn, leaning over to guide the light source, momentarily choke until the fetid plumes of death settle down again.
Sajeek feels a tiny breeze roll across his face. There was another hole somewhere that he could not see, which was in the direction of the whimpering. He realizes that it is difficult to hear the whimpering because of the background noise, and focusing more directly on that noise he understands it to be a thousand thousand wingbeats. Engorged black flies flit happily from corpse to corpse, eating their fill. Brushing them aside he can also see wriggling within the corpses, which he imagines to be maggots, or at least hopes to be maggots.
The number of dead are much higher than his original count would suggest, for there is a pile of children, and children's parts nearby.
From the look of the relatively fresh corpses this has been going on for a month or two maximum.
Not knowing what he is in for, Revery sits down and prepares to cast a spell that will unknowingly let him share Sajeek's nightmares. "Please do not disturb me. I must close my eyes and my mouth, but I will be able to see through Sajeek's eyes. I will only report on what I see if I end the spell. Also, if I begin chanting the spell again, without mentioning what I have seen, it is likely I am moving the eyesight to another creature; though I doubt I will do that now. Thus, this is just a security measure to let us know if Sajeek gets in too deep." Revery is not aware of his pun, at least not yet.
Sitting, eyes closed, Revery begins chanting.
Bind Sight (3 mana)
Will Save DC 22
Duration: concentration
Mana: 70/90
Sajeek's disgust and uncomfortable feeling of sliding over corpses filled with maggots is pushed aside in a flash. The dancing light light had shown the vah shir a sight that started a deep, burning rush of pure hatred and rage.
Caught perfectly in the flickering light was a pile of children. It didn't matter that they weren't var shir. Their little lives had been snuffed out. Even a predator wouldn't debase itself like this. Their last moments had been in absolute terror, Sajeek stares, trapped in place by the sight of the mound of corpses. A deep hurt from his barely remembered childhood surfaces in his mind. While had lost his mother, these poor souls mother's heart and souls had been torn out from the loss. Choking back a sob and dry heave, Sajeek let's his anger burn within him.
He was going to find whomever was whimpering and get them out of this hellhole. Then, Sajeek was going to make whatever did this wish to whatever unholy god they worshipped for death. They were going to know fear. And then suffering. Sajeek clenches his hands into fists, ignoring the heavy drone of fat flies.
Unclenching his fists with a degree of mental effort, Sajeek looks at the mound of children's bodies once more, anger and sadness fighting for a spot on his muzzled face. Steeling himself for what he might find, Sajeek presses a bit further. Having heard the whimpering himself, Sajeek wasn't about to let some poor soul stay trapped in this hellish larder. The vah shir shudders at the thought.
Kwen quickly dawnes his climbing gear and follows Sajeek down the sinkhole, focusing on his the handholds hoping that he wouldn't do the same thing that Sajeek did... fall.
Kwen gracefully moves down the wall, not even taking a moment to stop, each handhold coming to him, even with the lack of light. Upon reaching the bottom Kwen takes one breath in, the stench of decay almost overpowering, Kwen retches, emptying the contents of his stomach. After the messy business is done, Kwen snort's trying to clear his sinuses from the bile that had gotten trapped there.
Pulling the club out, he looks around in disgust from the bodies, steeling himself he brings to mind some of the training he had received. Blocking his emotions for the time being he follows after Sajeek, taking note of anything that might be trying to hide in the darkness.
Gwendalyn swiftly casts Inner Fire on Kwen as he prepares to brave the stinking pit. (+1 insight AC, +3 buff hp, 32/50 mana) Though tempted to follow, she isn't sure whether Bast would protect Brontide, and maintains her vigil by the vulnerable enchanter.
The hole in the ground is large enough for a overly-rotund ogre to fit in without scraping its shoulders on any size.
Immediately the spell takes a toll on Revery (1 damage per round that bind sight is in effect). He shares the beastlord's perspective, though it is a pale reflection of what is transpiring down below, since it is visual input only.
Will Save (vs. Bind Sight):
Bast stands a silent watch over Revery, and the enchanter still has the rest of his senses, and can regain his attention in a moment just by lapsing his concentration.
Sajeek starts working through the mass of bodies and understands that he will have to relocate many of them to be able to get closer to the sound.
While Kwen's means of getting down below is slower than the vah shir, it is a wonder to behold as he flies down the rope.
Kwen move's closer to Sajeek, helping him move the bodies as he strains to hear anything, this whimpering could be anything. Something keeps nagging at the Rogue and he can't help but feel like this could be an ambush. The undead critter just up and disapearing, not to mention that there was a lot of bodies down here. The fact that it was children as well, was even worse. His anger threaten to take hold of him, the rage over the fact that children... Children were killed, perhaps as food but more likely it was a sport for what ever had done this.
Pushing the anger away from himself, the rogue locks down his emotions even more, forcing himself to be dispassionate about the task that they were now in a body dumping ground for whatever did this.
Feeling a slight breeze, Kwen feels like there is a least another enterance into and out of this hole, didn't little to appease the rogue.
spot check
listen check
After fighting an undead creature not that long ago it is disconcerting, to say the least, to stand amidst so many bloated and rotting corpses. You half expect every vermin-crafted movement to be a body standing and coming to feast upon your still-beating heart.
These bodies are of all different races and represent a fairly comprehensive cross-section of the races that walk the surface of Norrath.
Kwen's presence is a mellowing factor on Sajeek, and vice versa. At least there is a companion to stave off some of the horror of this scene.
The uneven rocks of the cave you are in play tricks with the spinning light source, giving flashing impressions of things that you would rather not see. Taking up the lantern in your hands will permit you to draw in more information, especially in the area where the breeze is coming from.
Sajeek's initial impression of the size of the room, fashioned while trying to process the unfathomable scene, was incorrect. The room is perhaps half the size he initially imagined. The uneven floor makes it difficult to recognize how deep the bloo...even in that you realize the error, for it is murky water made thick with all matters of body tissues and sloughed off flesh. Perhaps it is worse to move through a human soup, but at least you don't have to wrap your head around how many other bodies must exist to fill a chamber with hundreds of gallons of blood.
The space feels especially claustrophobic, considering how low the 7' high ceiling is. Even in that you find it to be uneven, with points where the ceiling dips down much lower.
The sun cheerfully descends into the lower chamber, but at such an angle that its rays do not illuminate the bottom, perhaps afraid to bear witness on the horrors that have occurred here.
"Grab the lantern Kwen, Sajeek says quietly. "I need some stable light." The vah shir looks at the rogue and then turns his gaze back to the mounds of corpses. Unintentionally, his emerald gaze lingers on the bodies of the slain children. He was glad that one of his friends was in here as well. Sajeek wasn't sure if he could handle being down here all by himself.
Sajeek pauses for a moment, quieting his mind. He needed to move through the bodies faster. The sooner that they could get out of this hole, the better. The young Beastlord didn't want to spend anytime down here, let alone more time.
"Brother Bear, I ask for you to lend me your strength to find a lost cub," Sajeek says in a formal tone, respectfully asking for the spirit of Bear to aid his efforts. Feeling the warm strength of the spirit add to his own, Sajeek tears back into his task. He didn't pay attention to the expressions of the fresher corpses as he work. The vah shir's mind keeps his anger at a slow simmer to help ward away the feelings of revulsion and sadness.
Treating the corpses like soggy, maggoty leaking piles of wood, Sajeek works as quickly as he is able to make a pathway.
Kwen can hear Sajeek, and see the filthy water splash as the vah shir moves about the chamber, but he cannot see him (invisible).
Gwendalyn cannot see anyone down below, but she can see that the light source has moved southward from its initial position below the hole. She is kept company by Bast, who spends its time languishing in the sun's light while licking a paw, Revery, who is acting as an arcane voyeur, and Vlen, who doesn't have the heart to be much of a conversationalist right now, which leaves her with not much to do.
(Gwendalyn, Revery and Bast: please include a listen check in your next post)
You came in near the middle of the upper part of the very crude oval that is the subterranean cavern. Moving south you saw a cramped hole in the southeast part of the space. The slight breeze, which carried the sickening stench of fetid rotting meat stink towards that cramped hole, came from the western part of the room.
As the light finds a section of the north wall you see letters written in blood upon the wall. The humidity of the chamber, and shaking hand of the likely injured author, do no favours to legibility. The word looks like "bewarr swine."
(Sajeek and Kwen: please include a DC 15 language check to decipher, Revery: you caught only a glimpse, please include a DC 25 language check to decipher)
Moving bodies aside, a prospect made difficult by the bodies being as structurally sound as chunky snot, reveals a passage of only a couple feet high and a bit wider than that near the ceiling. It is from this pitch black space that you hear the noise, and the breeze is coming from.
As you near that place one of the piles of bodies shifts and a skeleton slowly makes its way to its feet. This is not the skeleton you met earlier, for this one has no remnants of clothing, or even flesh. It's glowing eyes malevolently scour the room, fixing on Kwen and Sajeek (all undead innately see the invisible).
Kwen and Sajeek are near one another in the western part of the room, and the skeleton stands across from them at the west wall 6' away.
Moving quickly in this area is not going to happen, due to the uneven slippery ground, the filthy water, and walking on bodies.
Initiative
- Kwen, Sajeek
- Skeleton
"S$&&fire, it can see us," Sajeek mutters to Kwen. "That's not good. Remind me to remind Rev that it didn't work." Sajeek looks at the skeleton and feels a strange sense of relief. 'At least it isn't the same one,' the vah shir thinks. A strange thought crosses his mind. 'I hope it's a good thing this isn't the same one.
The young Beastlord realizes that this thing was the reason the source of the whimpering didn't answer. Whomever it was knew about the skeleton. Sajeek really couldn't blame them for not speaking out with the walking bones in the hole. The simmering anger ignited within the vah shir.
With a gutteral, savage sounding roar, Sajeek takes a careful step forward and slams his fists into the skeleton. He was going to tear it apart and feed it it's own leg bones.
Meanwhile, in the happy, sunny land up top
Licking his paw, Bast's eyes are mostly closed as the warmth of the sun begins to pick away his desire to remain awake. Ears flickering, the big Tiger yawns and stretches out.
Sajeek's first strike is as accurate as his second strike isn't, but there is no sign that the first blow even affected the undead creature. He does notice that this skeleton is sorely damaged, possibly from attacks suffered ages ago, since these things might never heal, so it won't take much to drop it should they be able to bypass its innate toughness.
10 minutes have passed since Sajeek had launched himself into the hole. Revery had been taking damage since the start (1 damage per round), for holding together such magics is something a body is not meant to do, and needs to decide when he is going to let his concentration lapse.
Bast growls and launches at the hole as the skeleton threatens its master. The kejek tiger claws and paces around the hole. Paws slide down the inner side of the hole, but the creature does not commit. It paces around and tries again, then finally does the unthinkable and simply leaps in. The overgrown fluff ball reinacts its first attack against the skeleton and tumbles in, rather than gracefully leaps down.
Jump (Bast) (fail)
For such an ungainly entrance, the tiger actually manages to land on its feet. The splash is definitely something that is surprising to all present.
Falling Damage (lethal):
Falling Damage (nonlethal):
You have to hope there's another way out, cause carrying 500 pounds of cat back up out of the hole will not be a pleasant experience.
Revery's eyes open, and he looks at Gwendalyn. Beads of salty water run down from his large head. Too much pain, both down there, and in his body. And in his soul. It has been over a minute, almost two, but to him it felt like an hour.
He begins describing the horrific scene, using words that allow him to speak without his voice breaking. "They are in a cave, in a foot of water. But the cave is full of... rotting... corpses. Adult ... and not. I saw an Elf, I think, and an Erudite. There is writing on the wall, but I couldn't make it out." Revery knows Gwen likes to have full disclosure, which is perfectly reasonable considering how useful information is, especially in a case like this where, ironically, she is the one in the dark, so to speak.
Listen:
Language (Int check? There's no linguistics skill):
After a while he sees Bast react to something. A sound? And, unbelievably, the huge cat jumps down the hole!
He gets up, not as quickly as he would have liked, and goes to the hole. "What's happening!?" he calls down.
(hp: 17/35)
When Brontide ceases concentration on his masochistic spell, Gwendalyn casts a Light Healing spell to fix him up. (, 27/50 mana) She then meditates until Bast becomes restless. (28/50 mana)
"Well something must've disturbed him to just jump in like that. Let's go!" She pauses just long enough to cast Fleeting Fury on the intellectual erudite, to give him a chance of not falling like Sajeek, before starting down the rope herself. (+4 Str and Dex, +1 insight AC, 26/50 mana)
Revery thanks Gwendalyn for the healing. But when she starts climbing down, he says, "Someone should stay up here. Stay away from under the hole!!!"
And he starts to look around for boulders and large rocks that he can carry or roll over to right next to the hole. Also, any rocks that may weigh about 100 to 150 lbs. If he finds any of the latter, he will merely make a mental not of it.
(hp: 35/35)
Kwen gives a wicked smile, glad for another chance at the skeleton, hefting his borrowed club, he quickly sets the lantern down, he takes a step on to the opossite side of the skeleton, hoping that if Sajeek was on the other side of it. Hoping that Sajeek still remembers how useful it was for both of them to work on flanking one target, Kwen tries to hit the skeleton, using both hands on the club.
-----------------
combat:
Move action to possible flank (if greater then a 5-ft step, trying to avoid an AoA, if move action is required to set the lantern on the most stable body, then still taking a free 5-ft step)
damage either way blunt (blunt)
Revery stands on glassy plains, bedecked by rolling hills, and has seen few signs of rocks of significant size in his journey. They are there, but it will take some searching to find one. His wounds close, and his muscles bulge, thanks to shamanistic magic.
(include search check in your next post if searching far and wide for a rock)
Gwendalyn slips a bit on the rope, but does not fall (no progress, can move 7.5' as a miscellaneous move action or 15' as a miscellaneous full round action).
Kwen's blow lands (flanking bonus provided for both Sajeek and Kwen), but there is no discernable damage for the attack.
Two attacks had landed, but neither had a discernible effect on the skeleton.
Random (by alpha):
Thus far your impression of skeletons is that they are impossibly tough, but do very little in terms of damage. That impression is shattered in the next few seconds as a gout of flame erupts from the space that Kwen stands upon.
Shock of Fire (reflex DC 14 to take half damage):
Whether those above have a clue of what is going on, they see the explosion of flame from down below.
(end of round)
(start of new round)
Revery gives up looking for rocks. he shakes his head, then hears some yelling from below. He needs to see what is going on, but before that he needs protection. He takes out his spellbook (move action) and, forgetting his Lull spell, memorizes Pendril's Animation, Quickened (full round action). Then he puts his spellbook back in his pack, and casts his quickened Pendril's Animation.
(That's two rounds of actions; I will wait two rounds to post again.)
(Mana: 62/90)
"Yikes!" Sajeek twitches as the gout of flame pops into being and disappears. The smell of roasting flies was not helping the experience down in the corpse filled hole. Especially the knee high human soup that they were standing in. The Beastlord looks at the battered skeleton and gulps. Sajeek was really, really regretting not taking the time to meditate and ask the spirits to aid Bast.
Hissing, Sajeek runs his limited opens through his head. He did see much choice but to continue to attack and try to wear the undead down. Hoping the others aren't far off, Sajeek sets his footing and attacks once more.
"Bast! Move it!" Sajeek calls out to the tiger with out taking his eyes of the skeleton. It's noneyes glared with a sense of hatred that was almost tangible.
Head held high, Bast makes his way over to Sajeek. The big tiger's claws manage to find purchase, but he still takes his time. Which amounts to all of a couple of extra seconds. The big hunting cat covers the short distance quickly and lunges in, long ivory teeth shining in the lantern light.
Only with years of training and being on the run saves Kwen from taking damage, his body warning him a split second before the fire even hit him. Diving to his left, he rolls away just as the fire hit's the spot he was standing in, coming out of his roll, Kwen uses his momentum to spring to his feet sparing a quick glance, hoping to see what happened
In the space it take for a heart to spit out a volume of a beat Kwen is engulfed in flames, likely being killed in the process. The flames dies down to reveal the rogue a few feet away casually patting out a overzealous lick of fire that had taken purchase on his forearm (no damage). Only a rogue could react a split second before the pressure wave had hit with such speed as to avoid even getting singed.
This was Kwen's first real test with a mortal attack, and he can thank his master's fixation on excellence for literally saving his skin.
Sajeek (providing a flanking bonus to either Kwen) hits once and misses so completely that he thinks he hears his warder stifle a kitty chuckle, but accomplishes nothing. Bast strikes a split second later, and also fails to do anything (damage reduction).
Kwen is well aware of who attacked him, and how (can continue to act, spot checks are generally reactive skill checks against hide attempts).
Kwen takes a swing with his club hoping to do more damage to disable the skeleton then narrows his eyes, he didn't take kindly to having fire thrown at him.
damage
Gwendalyn continues down another chunk of the solid rope (half speed bringing her total to 22.5' descended). She is just over halfway down, and still cannot see anything, for her view will be blocked until the last 7' or so. She could likely drop off at this point and probably wouldn't break anything, probably.
Kwen fails to make contact, having nearly foiled his grip by catching his club in between the creature's ribs.
The skeleton mindlessly reorients on one of the two that had attacked him within the last few seconds, despite bast purposefully trying to pull attention away from its master (taunting).
Random (by alpha):
Perhaps there is a spark of intelligence after all, for the monster attacks the warder anyway.
Shock of Fire (reflex DC 14 to take half damage):
The kejek tiger rolls off some of the flames, but far from all of it (6 damage), and is looking rather ragged (21 hit points remaining, 3 subdual damage as well).
Reflex Save:
(end of round)
(start of new round)
Revery calmly prepares himself soothed by the chorus of his companion's cries of pain.
Kwen swears, then taking a better grip on the club tries to land a blow, hoping to end the skeleton's...life? Unlife, it was hard to truly know for the rogue that is, why the skeleton was moving.
damage
Gwendalyn swiftly casts Fleeting Fury on herself (24/50 mana), then lets go of the rope on purpose. She lands in the foul charnel pit with a splash, and then advances through the unspeakable toward her friends, unlimbering her two-handed hammer and casting a Minor Healing spell on the injured tiger as she goes. (, 22/50 mana)
Gwendalyn could not set herself up for a worse fall (critical failure). She lands prone and takes a moment to get her bearings while sputtering fetid water (ends up prone and stunned after awkward fall, no more actions taken this round).
Falling Damage (lethal):
Falling Damage (nonlethal):
Kwen catches the creature flush, but once again the thing shows no damage for all of the blows that have landed on it. Heavier implements are required if they are going to bring this thing down.
Revery is no where to be seen. Atop the surface he is able to bring his pet into being.
(Revery: please include a listen check in your next post)