Gilda casts Guidance on Shel. Because.
Unsure of what is happening, Awnara stays back with the acolytes, watching the strangers disturb the sarcophagi.
Detecting no traps, the diminutive rogue slips her tool kit's crowbar into a the small gap under the lid of the first sarcophagus and shoves. The sound of stone on stone echos throughout the empty crypt. It clatters to the ground.
Inside, a treasure trove of goods contains:
A dozen silver arrows, four sun rods, six flasks of holy water,
10 arrows made of bone
5 arrows made of a black, greasy looking material
2 arrows made of obsidian
seven potions
three scrolls
and a thin darkwood case decorated with an image of a scarab with a single eye glaring from its back—the same design that appears on the cover of the
Manual of the Order of the Palatine Eye among the books in the professor’s collection.
In the near silence of the crypt, you notice the sound of many skittering feet running across the roof.
If you haven't' rolled initiative, please do so now.
Please note if you're downstairs, in the entry of the crypt, or outside.
Mind if I take those. Vahcordi says as he takes the arrows.
I don't like the sound of what is coming. He stands by the crypt and makes ready.
Gilda follows the rogue. She readies her crossbow, but keeps her battle axe close to hand.
Initiative
Thank you, Professor. I hope this will help us avenge whoever did this to you, Shel thinks as she sees the trove of items stored away.
She turns with a start as she hears the skittering on the floor.
As Awnara watches the strangers investigate the tomb, she hears a strange skittering sound, and she turns to investigate the cause.
The skittering sound belongs to a trio of giant centipedes who crawl across the roof and drop into the doorway of the crypt. The man-sized bugs click their pincers before charging the fleshy humanoids present.
Initiative:
Vachordi & 3 monsters
Shel
Edrick and Gilda
The two acolytes
Awnara
Garin?
Vachordi hops up on top of another sarcophogas and begins to sing his Shoanti war chant.
"Fathers, get behind me," Shel calls out, looking to protect the church members. She pulls her dagger and waves the two behind her. She focuses on protecting herself from the crawly critters.
Gilda shoots at the big bug to her right.
for damage.
She then drops her crossbow and will grab her axe when that is possible.
Awnara shrieks as the massive centipede crawls through the open tomb. Her fight-or-flight response chooses a third option, and she freezes in terror.
Taking a forward defensive position, Edrik tries to put himself between the Priests, Awnara and the centipedes.
With a furrowing of his brow, Edrik lifts his shield and strikes fiercely at the first centipede he can get his Warhammer on.
Vachordi begins a throaty ballad that sounds to those who don't speak Shoanti that he's trying to inhale and shout at the same time. Nevertheless, it has a good rhythm and grants the companions a boon.
The three centipedes wiggle their way off the roof and attack
Cent 1 attack
crit
damage 1
damage 2
Cent 2 attack
Cent 3 attack
damage
The first attacks one of the acolytes who hung back near the doorway. The pincers dig into his flesh as he cries out, but he remains conscious.
The second grasps at Shel, and can't find a hold on the quick rogue.
The third connects with Edrik , before Edrik's swing splatters its guts on the wall.
Gilda's arrow misses by a wide margin.
The injured acolyte panics, but manages to clutch his holy symbol and pray to Pharasma (channel energy heal for everyone).
Like Awnara, the second acolyte freezes at the sight of the monstrous bug.
Round 1 is over. One bug is down. 2 remain.
Vachordi takes careful aim at a centipede and fired.
Shel lashes out at the closest beast with her dagger.
Attack
Damage
The scream of the acolyte near her breaks Awnara out of her fright. She grabs her knife from her belt, and slashes it at the centipede attacking the holy man.
Move: Draw my knife.
Standard: Attack the centipede. I doubt I get flanking, and I'm not planning on moving into flank to get it at this moment. If I have to move more than 5' to get to one, then I don't attack.
After easily dispatching the first centipede, Edrik hollars "See to the wounded!" With that, Edrik pushes forward to strike at the centipede nearest Awnara and the Acolytes.
R2 resolution:
The bard's shot pierces through the eye of one of the arthropodes, felling it.
The remaining one lunges at Edrik, who has moved into intercept.
Edrik shrugs off the sting of the venom as his wound heals from the acolyte's channel. This bite causes 2 points of damage, and again the wound is inflamed (another DC 14 fort check please).
His return swing lops the bug in half, leaving two pieces quivering on the gore-slick ground.
When the acolytes recover their wits, the remember the cache, and to your chagrin respectfully request the churches' cut (after all, it's church property in the first place), but allow you to take the bulk of the items.
What do you surrender?
How about your lives! Consider us saving them payment enough.
Shel asks the acolytes to allow her to confer with the others. Out of earshot, she asks if anyone in the group can figure out what is magical and what was not. After that was discussed, then divvying things up could be arranged.
After dispatching the final centipede, Edrik drops his shield and hammer and falls to one knee cursing "Bloody hell, that one got me... my right leg is going numb!"
Awnara rushes over to Edrik as he falls to a knee. "Let me have a look at it, I've a mind for nursemaiding! I'll need to bleed the venom, so bite down on your shield!" She splashes some water on the affected area, washing it quickly before cutting a shallow wound near the injection site. She presses on the new wound, hoping to carry the poison out with the blood.
Heal test to treat poison. If this succeeds, Edrik gets a +4 bonus on his next save.
Vachordi rushes over and attempts to
Then he touches Edrik's shoulder and releases soothing energy into his body.
[ooc] Casts CLW
Gilda casts Detect Magic for three + rounds.
"I may be able to help with that."
The poison abates, leaving the paladin shaken but unharmed.
The smaller sets of arrows glow with magic. The set of 10 are evocation, the five are necromantic, and the pair are abjuration. The silvered arrows are not magical.
Potions and scrolls are magical. Are you opening the scarab/eye covered box to check it's contents?
The acolyte who demands the portion of gear for the church responds.
We are indeed thankful for your martial prowress, you likely saved our lives. And we wish to reward you, however these goods are not ours to give. They belong to the church. Father Grimburrow will expect something from the cache, and it should be enough to convince him that you've given us the bulk of the goods. I apologize for my imposition upon you.
You wanted to train a bird, yes? Did you roll an animal check?
Are you involving Ms. Lorrimor in the process?
"I say we give them the sunrods, a scroll and a couple of the potions. I'd expect him to be happy with this found bounty for them, as they had no idea any of this was here."
Vachordi grumbles
He puts aside 6 Silver arrows, 2 Holy Waters, 3 Sun Rods
Lets put 2 potions and 2 scrolls as well, once we know what they are.
And I would indeed involve Ms. Lorrimor in the process if she expresses interest. I plan on being her bodyguard of sorts (keep her safe, like the Professor asked) and being charming.
With a beaming smile, Edrik slowly stands up in a buoyed mood "Thank-you for addressing the wound my friends! I'd surely have much to worry about had the poison taken full effect."
Shaking his leg a bit as it begins to regain feeling, Edrik moves about flexing the stiffness from his joints. While picking up his shield and hammer, Edrik addresses the acolytes with a friendly tone "I take no issue with that brothers, we worship the same. I'd never presume to take from the church."
The potions: 2 lesser restoration, five cure light wounds.
Scroll of detect undead, two scrolls of hide from undead, a scroll of protection from evil
The necromancy arrows are +1, and have some other ability to them.
The Abjuration arrows are also +1, with an additional property
Ms. Lorrimor aids you successfully, both in her animal handling checks, and it even seems like you're more successful during the attempts where she would gracefully tap you on the shoulder with some form of guidance. She's a bit shy, but warming to you.
The priests are happy with a meager portion of the loot to return to their boss.
Is there anything else you wish to do at the crypt?
Visit the gravesite of Professor Lorrimor, I expect?
Vachordi announces to his companions what the items are.
Anyone want to take another look at these arrows?
If the others were paying attention, they'd notice Shel keeping the box with the mark on it away from the acolytes, and even away from the magical detection spells for the time being. After the split is agreed to, and they headed to the Professor's gravesite out of the sight of the acolytes, only then will the halfling open the box, and show the others what was contained therein
Anyone else hurt?
Awnara remains silent as the strangers debate splitting up the treasures found within the tomb.
When Vachordi mentions having someone else mystically examine the arrows, Awnara's eyes widen in fear, and she quickly tries to disappear amongst the bigger folk.
Nothing to fear lass! Come take a look at these, before I go firing away at all sorts of nasty things out there! Vachordi booms at Awnara
Noticing the halfling girl slink away at the prospect of inspecting the gear, a perplexed look forms on Edrik's face. Waving his hand towards Vachordi in a hushing manner, Edrik's gesture asks for quiet without actually saying it.
Turning around and kneeling down, Edrik keeps his tone low but kind "Something the matter Awnara?"
Away from the prying eyes of strangers, you give the box a once over before popping it open.
The darkwood case is worth 50 gp, and contains three objects of interest—a spirit board with a thin brass triangle, with rounded corners and a circular hole near the top point, and four iron and glass vials
containing tiny, churning clouds of vapor. The vials sit in velvet-lined indentations to the left of the spirit board and planchette, along with six empty indentions.
"No, nothing!", Awnara replies to the paladin, a little too quickly and frantically. She collects herself, and continues. "It's just, well, you're not from Ustalav. Witchery isn't something taken lightly here. It attracts the wrong sort of attention, both from people and, um, other entities." She still looks nervous, and keeps from meeting the warrior's gaze.
"How interesting? Does anyone know exactly what this device does? I've never seen anything like it before."
A knowledge arcana check (DC 15) or local (DC 20) could tell you what the planchet does.
It's nearing noon. Where would you like to continue your investigation?
Understanding fully now, Edrik places his hand on Awnara's shoulder sympathetically "I actually grew up in Ustalav, so I do understand dear girl." Standing up, Edrik speaks with a confident and reassuring voice "Rest assured, nothing will happen to you because of your art Awnara, not if I have anything to say of it."
Looking back over to Shel, Edrik ponders her question a moment before retorting "I'm the wrong person to ask Shel... but maybe Awnara or Vachordi can be of assistance."
Safe amongst us little one. If you can assist with these items, we could use it. Good Edrik if it is not about nature I am at a loss.
"So long as you act for the good and follow the law, I have no problem whatsoever with your art" Gilda's words sound harsh and rigid but the effect is spoiled by the smile that keeps trying to break out on her face.