Not much for discussion, Aikane silently glides down the side passage to inspect the door. I'll need to check it out regardless, might as well do it now while they are discussing it.
Aikane heads over to check the side door. Not finding any traps he opens the door.
This elegant bedroom is dimly lit and exudes quiet magnificence in its decor. An expertly crafted four-poster canopy bed covered by an exotic fur rests against the far wall. A nearby armoire is partially open and contains a variety of fine clothes and a wooden stool shaped in the form of a mushroom sits in front of a golden harp.
A closer examination shows the bed is carved from alder and covered by a winter wolf pelt worth a couple hundred gold coins. The armoire’s two drawers are partially open. The armoire contains 16 men’s outfits including nobleman’s clothing, wizard robes, and less formal attire — all fitted for an elf. The five most impressive outfits are easily worth several hundred gold coins, while the remaining outfits are worth perhaps several gold each.
Chuckling, Aikane whispers "Not sure if the spell is still going, but this looks to be the old master bedroom. Lots of elven finery here,"
He then does a quick search of the room.
"Jacinth, your ancestor was quite the dandy, wasn't he? Everything in this room seems in almost pristine condition. Preservation magic, perhaps?"
"This is a nice piece." The beautiful golden harp draws Nef's attention. "Oren, is that harp magical?" She then turns to the Menehune. "Aikane, I know you play the fiddle like the devil himself. How are you at harps?"
As the group creeps into the room, Oren looks around, seeing if anything popped in his vision as having any sort of dweomer. He fills in the others on whatever he notices, if anything.
"I wonder who actually lived in this place. It looks in amazing shape if it was long ago at all..."
"There were some elven clothes in the other room, past the kitchen. Those were moldy and had dry rot.
These are still in useable condition, and much fancier.
As I said, master bedroom.
Do we want to do a thorough search of this room now, or wait? If there is a personal journal to be found, it is likely here."
Oren looks over the magical tome which radiates a faint aura of transmutation magic. The leather bound book features the image of a screaming demon on its front cover. Its pages are scribed in Elven. It is titled "Urthlan the Fiendbinder’s Guide to the Diabolic".
Oren checks the master bedroom out and detects an area of the wall that radiates an aura of faint abjuration.
Nef looks over the harp and immediately realizes it is a beautiful instrument, tuned perfectly even after all these years.
Oren takes a peek at and inside the book, as he tells the others to check out the spot in the wall that appeared magical.
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After a little prodding, Aikane comes over to where Nef is looking at the harp.
"Too big to put under my chin." His voice sounds serious, but anyone paying attention notices the mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
He then stands next to it, to get a better feel for just how big it is. "I would need longer arms to play something like this."
Nef snorts with laughter at the thought of Aikane stuffing the harp under his chin. "Okay, maybe it would be a little difficult for you to play. A shame, because this is a lovely harp! Great workmanship, and perfectly in tune!"
"What's this?" Nef fingers the inscription she found for a half second before pointing it out to the others. "There's something written on the neck of this harp! 'A foolish elf found a clever elf when he looked up high.' Up high? Huh..." Nef looks up at the ceiling.
Then she stops and pauses. "Wait a minute. The inscription's in Common, not Elvish. Does that seem... odd to you? This is supposed to be an ancient elvish lab, right?"
Nef gets up and paces, trying to think. Her best thinking always happened when she was in movement. "Jacinth... Is there something we're missing? Is this a reference to some elvish story or song that any elf would recognize, but that a human might not?"
Then she blinks. "Actually, if its written on the harp... maybe it's an instruction of how to play the harp?"
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Aikane thinks a moment, then picks at the strings from the side. Strange set of notes, but probably worth trying...
As Aikane plays the notes on the harp in the order coded by the phrase, there is a momentary shudder as a section of the south wall slides inward.
As you peer inside the dimly lit room, you first notice an exquisite longbow of remarkable quality and a wand each rest on two stone pedestals. There also is a closed iron chest on the floor behind the pedestals. However before you can enter you see a skeletal figure sitting at the far wall of the room. Shreds of leathery flesh cling to this figure's body, while twin motes of fiery light glow deep in its eye sockets. As it notices you it rises to its feet and speaks in a hallow voice tinged with a note of surprise, "Welcome. It has been a long time since anyone has visited this vault. I take it Urthlan is dead?"
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Reknar was getting prepared to start gathering some loot - "Finally something worth a couple pieces of gold" - but then raises an eyebrow with impatience as the menehune begins playing the harp, and when the door begins to rumble he smiles - "Good thing you suddenly decide to get all participant Aikane - it seems you may have a couple of interesting things to say and do after all"
As the skeletal creature reveals itself, the man immediately prepares his weapon, but does not attack as it does not seem to be going for their throats right away - "I've seen these before - crypt things meant to protect tombs, graves and.... Well... Crypts" - he chuckles - "They usually only attack if attacked, but can put up a fight, and teleport people away in random directions. That one is nasty" - he whispers to those around him.
"Is Urthlan the elf wizard? I'd imagine he's long gone. His area looks quite well abandoned now. What's he have you doing for him?"
The crypt thing responds in a pleasant voice, "Yes, he was the one who bound me to guard his vault."
Nef eyes the crypt guardian cautiously.
At least he's polite.
"Are you still bound, guardian? May I ask what your charge is?"
The crypt thing turns to face the diminutive priestess. "Why, yes I am still bound to this vault and the valuables you can see before you."
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"Do you know anything about that no good demon running around down here? We're here to put it down. Any advice would be appreciated."
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The undead guardian ignored the elf lady and turns to face the Kamu. "Ohh, that thing? Yes you are obviously referring to Hawanapoki. I always found it odd that Urthlan seemed fascinated with the fiend, but I never understood his obsession with the creature. He is imprisoned elsewhere in the complex, I know not where but you should not have any problem finding it. He is not going anywhere." He shrugs his bony shoulders in an oddly human gesture, wryly remarking "In the end, Urthlan and Hawanapoki share one thing. They were the only ones Pele spared."
"If Urthlan is gone," Nef asks, "Are you bound to his heirs? Urthlan is Jacinth's ancestor. She came here to seek out his history."
At the mention of Pele, Nef startles. "You remember when Pele attacked? That... sounds like a very interesting story. I collect stories. Would you mind sharing it? How and why did those two survive?"
Ke' watched the Crypt Thing warily from the back.
Aikane smiled when his little gambit with the harp opened the secret door. It was alright that he hadn't noticed the door in the quick search, he was still the one who opened it.
He was somewhat less amused by the creature on the other side. Dead things shouldn't move! Was there anything that fool of a dead mage didn't play with?
Aikane waited a few moments, just to be sure that no fight would break out. Seeing that Nef and Oren seemed delighted by the chance to converse with the dead thing, the small Menehune started a more thorough search of the room. While he did this, he sorted out what he thought were the most valuable items the group would likely want to take.
At one point, he pauses and calls out "Ask it if there are any Cold Iron weapons around here." If we are lucky, it might know of a stash we can use. I still can't believe that I forgot to bring a couple of my Cold Iron daggers!
"If Urthlan is gone," Nef asks, "Are you bound to his heirs? Urthlan is Jacinth's ancestor. She came here to seek out his history."
At the mention of Pele, Nef startles. "You remember when Pele attacked? That... sounds like a very interesting story. I collect stories. Would you mind sharing it? How and why did those two survive?"
The undead replies calmly, "My orders are clear. Protect this vault and allow none but Urthlan to enter."
As Nefertiti asks about Pele, the undead's voise becomes more animated. "As for how Urthlan came to be here, ages ago the elves came from across the sea from the green realms of Kyonin and aspired to claim the Razor as their own. To further their ambitions, they defeated the Tulitas and built their mighty stronghold of Sammerlock Sails and a secret, magical laboratory on Dolentla Island. But they found Hawanapoki, who already was here. It welcomed the arrival of fresh minds, but it did not expect Urthlan the Fiendbinder who had a specialty for binding magic. Urthlan crafted enchanted stone totems and gossamer mithral that imprisoned Hawanapoki. He and his apprentices attempted to control the qlippoth and use the fiend as a weapon against the Tulitas, but Hawanapoki’s mind refused to bend, even to the mighty Urthlan. As the months passed and the war between the elves and Tulitas dragged on, Hawanapoki resisted and grew stronger. Then, Pele came to the Tulitan's aid and changed Urthlan's fortunes forever. Dolentla Island did not escape Pele’s ire. The elf wizards there attempted to battle against her, but to no avail. She slew every last elf on the island."
When questioned about the cold iron, it replies "I am not aware of any weapons made of cold iron here. Urthlan wished to use the demon, not slay it."
The undead shakes his head at Jacinth's question. "I may not leave this vault so all I know is what Urthlan told me of this place, that which I have already told you."
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"Well, let's go find the demon. We cAn figure out what to do with this thing later. "
"Agreed. Thank you for the story," Nef says to the Crypt thing, as she turns to follow the others.
Backtracking your way to the laboratory you then turn your attention to the north door. Aikane listens at the door and informs you there are several humanoids on the other side, most likely hawanis.
After preparing yourselves for the inevitable combat, Reknar opens the door.
Initiative
.
Hawani
Despite someone’s efforts, no amount of paint or perfume could remove the copious blood splatters on the walls, ceiling, and floor or the stench of death in this chamber. As you take in the gruesome scene you also see the five hawanis here and waiting for you. With a feral scream they move to attack!
"Quick make a bottleneck, so only one or two of them can attack us at once, and we can pick them off!"
Oren stands back well from the door, hoping the others could cut them down quickly.
Ke' offered another extract of Enlarge Person to any of his companions who wanted.
Round 1_______________
And since they are so conveniently bunched up, Ke' launched a bomb, selecting the center square.
for fire damage to center square, 6 damage to all adjacent.
Just before pushing through, again the Shield wand was in Reknar's hand, and again the shimmering field came into existence, layering his protections.
"Back!" - Reknar roared, at Oren's words - "You know the drill ladies and gents, make them come to us, and pay for every inch!"
"Stand fast and fight smart!" Nef steps out of the way and inspires courage. If our first magic circle spell ran out before this, she could have cast it before we opened the door.
Aikane opens the door on his side and steps back out of the way. He draws his rapier and dagger as he moves out of the way.
yes 3 points.
no. 6 points.
yes. 3 points.
no. 6 points.
The hawanis scream in pain as 'Lani's bomb explodes within their midst. Jacinth strikes one of the hawanis with her arrow wounding it further.
The hawanis all charge the doorway en masse...
Where Reknar smoothly steps in and decapitates the first two hawanis to approach, but the doorway is soon filled with their replacements.
One strikes at Nefertiti while the other goes after 'Lani...
; miss
; hit
; hit.
; hit
; hit
; miss.
Both hawanis strike savagely at their targets, with Nef again feeling the magical sleepiness threatening to overwhelm her...
Aikane thrusts his rapier at the Hawani in front of him, but is out of position to follow up with the dagger in his other hand.
"Ow! I hate hawanis!" Still maintaining her bardic performance, Nef full withdraws back behind her bird. 'Lani, bomb them and then open a charge lane!"
Reknar steps back and swings hard at the hiwani attacking Rata.
"If this one falls, pin the other with Aikane!" - Reknar barks at Rata Fenn - "Give'em HELL!"
Aikane strikes the hawani who savaged 'Lani whilst Reknar gouges a deep cut in the other one. Nefertiti, after having this time resisted the fell enchantment, manages to retreat out of harm's way.
Jacinth sends another arrow into the near hawani while Rata Fenn finishes the job started by Reknar.
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Ke' flinched and staggered under the assault.
Round 2_______
Snarling with his pointed teeth, he realized the enemy formation presented a unique opportunity. He considered but dismissed using a bomb, he only had four left.
"You know lads," He said pleasantly, "You're too close."
Quickly, in a Defensive stance, he pulled out his extract of Fire Sneeze and gulped it down.
He gasped; "aaah, aAAHH, AAA-CHOOO!!" He sneezed out a 10 foot long cone of fire and wind, covering the two Hawanis in front of him.