"Well the horse thieves we encountered earlier were most decidedly not undead. I suspect the mayor or the Schufers would have mentioned if they had found undead attacking the town."
"Aye, 'n if'n these bandits 'ave made this their hide'out, 'n how come th'skeletons dinna attack 'em?"
"Would you like the optimistic possibility or the not so pleasant one? If we are lucky, a cleric or necromancer recently stumbled upon this place and set up shop. If we are very lucky the bandit group and the cleric killed each other off. The other possibility is that the bandits awoke something in the tomb."
Alexis nods at Priyya's words. "Also Felmor, there aren't any fresh humanoid corpses in the area so we can't conclude as to whether or not the bandits were attacked. The horses couldn't flee though as they were tethered. Another possibility is that the bandits are in control of the undead, but then why have them kill the horses they went thru the trouble to steal?"
Alis comments, "From what I know of mindless undead like this, the only way they would have unpacked saddlebags is if someone ordered them to. About the only thing skeletons and zombies will do if left to their own devices is kill things."
"Exactly my thought. Killing the horses makes no sense unless there are two groups inside... or possibly ONE group now. The cleric may have butchered the horses to prevent the bandits from escaping - looking to animate them after killing them. The one bandit back at the lake may have escaped the trap."
Morgaard: "There's one good way of finding some answers." Morgaard snorts and looks towards the tomb, his eyes noting the fact tha the doors have not been sealed. "Unless you all want to stand out here in the rain until the answers come to find us..."
He continues, "I can see in the dark, but my girls still need at least some light to see by. What about you, Priyya?"
"I need no light to see by, Morgaard. But if there are undead in there - they probably won't care whether we have light or not. Our folks need to see. I believe one of the items the Mayor gave us was a ring which could cast light. I also have spells that do the same thing."
"I think Felmor has that ring. Sis and I can always cast light spells of our own if need be, but I don't think our good sailor has that luxury."
Alexis nods at this choice, "I prepared light in place of mending this morning. There is also an attack spell I keep prepared that can shed the light of Lunia for a longer duration, but it is expended when I attack."
She looks at Alis, "Which light spell did you prepare today, dancing lights?"
Priyya is torn, on one hand she knows Felmor is afraid and having a light might bring him some comfort. On the other, the ring might be better held by someone at the center of the party. In this case, maybe comfort is the better choice. She can't deny the sailor his one solace against his mounting fears... "Yes, I think Felmor should keep the ring. Some of us have spells and we have three torches as well."
Alis grins, "That's the one... Easier to shine around corners and cracks when you're looking for traps."
"Yes, I think Felmor should keep the ring. Some of us have spells and we have three torches as well."
"Yeah, I agree. You know how to work it right, Felmor?"
As if to dispel any doubt, Felmor speaks the command words needed to both activate and quench the ring's light. "Aye, ship shape here, Cap'n!"
"Aye, now th' thats settled, let's git his ovah wit'." He nods gratefully at Priyya, thanksful for her concern. "I be fine, we's gotta maiden ta save, doncha know!"
Priyya punches Felmor in the arm lightly, smiling, displaying clear pride in his bravery. "I'm ready to go find her..." Her smile fades as her glow brightens. She looks like a wolf ready to make a kill, "...and whoever chose to animate this foul thing."
Walking up the muddy path to the crypt's massive doors, you find that they are ajar by a few inches. Alis casts dancing lights and shines them inside, but the vantage is poor and she can't make out anything more than a long, dark chamber.
"There might be some bodies on the floor, but it's hard to tell. I don't see any movement though."
"Don't see any traps either. Shall we open this then?"
Str Checks
Felmor and Morgaard put their backs into it and as the heavy doors swing open, the faint light from outside reveals a long chamber with risen platforms on either side. A faded painting of Kassen is on the far wall. The room appears to be the site of a gruesome battle, with two bodies piled in the center and a number of skeletons scattered around. An echoing wail can be heard somewhere in the distance, beyond this foul chamber.
MAP: Crypt Room 01 #00
Felmor, with the help of Morgaard, is able to get the crypt doors open. He peers inside, but sees little. "Well, Cap'n, how do we tackle this?"
Priyya says, "Hold up, Alis." and moves to take her place peering into the doorway. She checks the corridor using her darkvision...
If she sees bodies, she will provide details and then say, "Just because they aren't moving now, doesn't mean they won't.... judging by our long-dead friend outside."
She then casts Detect Magic and scans the bodies first and the area in general... looking for that fun ol' necromantic energy... and hopefully this whole place doesn't glow with it although I have a sneaky suspicion it might.
The two dead bodies themselves dont' appear to be affected by any necromantic energy, but the rest of the place certainly does. Indeed the lingering background energy tends to overshadow anything else in the area preventing you from detecting fainter auras like on the skeleton you saw outside.
Once Priyya reports her findings, Felmor really wishes he was elsewhere. Still his duty is clear. "What will we do fer light at this point? Jes tell me where ta go, 'n I be there, but I thin' me take one side Morgaard take th' other side, n' Priyya take th' lead."
"What will we do fer light at this point? Jes tell me where ta go, 'n I be there, but I thin' me take one side Morgaard take th' other side, n' Priyya take th' lead."
"I'm not sure that having our healer in the front is such a great idea. Unless Priyya is adept at finding and disarming traps of course. As for light," she winks and spins her dancing lights around Felmor's head for a moment, "I'm certainly not intending to go walking around in the dark."
- Alis
- Morgaard
- Alexis
- Priyya
- Felmor
OR
- Alis & Morgaard
- Alexis
- Priyya & Felmor
OR
- Alis & Morgaard
- Priyya & Alexis
- Felmor
"I'm not sure that having our healer in the front is such a great idea. Unless Priyya is adept at finding and disarming traps of course. As for light," she winks and spins her dancing lights around Felmor's head for a moment, "I'm certainly not intending to go walking around in the dark."
"Well, Cap'n, i reall wasn't much concerned 'bout th' traps so much as th' undead guardin' th place. 'N lemme tell ye, them sticker jes ain't much good against the skeltons. Still, ye is th'boss."
"Well, Cap'n, i reall wasn't much concerned 'bout th' traps so much as th' undead guardin' th place. 'N lemme tell ye, them sticker jes ain't much good against the skeltons. Still, ye is th'boss."
Alis grins slightly, "I'm going to remind you you said that the first time we have to pull you out of a pit trap. Your point about the rapier is accurate though..."
She pulls out the light mace she claimed from Mayor Uptal's stash and gives it a thump in her palm. "Maybe this will work a bit better."
Alis grins slightly, "I'm going to remind you you said that the first time we have to pull you out of a pit trap. Your point about the rapier is accurate though..."
She pulls out the light mace she claimed from Mayor Uptal's stash and gives it a thump in her palm. "Maybe this will work a bit better."
"Jes throw me an end o' rope, 'n I be good ta go. 'N, looks like ye is as well. Let's do this." Felmor replies, as he pulls his Pin and dagger, and activates his ring.
Regarding the rapier/mace debate, Priyya smiles and says "It all depends on the type of undead we meet. Go with the weapon you feel more comfortable with until we see what we are facing."
Felmor nods at Priyya, saying, "Aye, sounds like ye done this stuff b'fore. I be right b'hind ye, then."
"I'm not sure that having our healer in the front is such a great idea. Unless Priyya is adept at finding and disarming traps of course."
Despite the dismal surroundings, Priyya smiles brightly at Alis, warming to the maiden even more than she had previously, "Oh, I am PHENOMENAL at finding traps! So long as you are willing to resuscitate me afterwards. I daresay, with me in the lead, we will find every trap in this tomb."
Despite the dismal surroundings, Priyya smiles brightly at Alis, warming to the maiden even more than she had previously, "Oh, I am PHENOMENAL at finding traps! So long as you are willing to resuscitate me afterwards. I daresay, with me in the lead, we will find every trap in this tomb."
"I think th'traps were meant ta be found, jes not by th'healer in th' group. Though, if ya need ta be resuscitated, I knows how ta give th' breath of life ta drownin' victims." Felmor says with a straight face.
Priyya looks at Felmor, unsure whether he is being his usual earnest self or trying to flirt with her. Matching his straight face and hard-to-read response, she replies, "Perhaps later."
Felmor is unsure as to her response, but when she takes her place in the middle of the group, behind Alis, he allows a smile to creep over his face. Aye, p'haps later, if'n we make it through this place.
Morgaard scans the interior of the tomb. Taking a couple steps forward, he prods the two corpses with the haft of his great axe. They seem dead enough to the point of stenching of stale decay. Looking around, he observes the two doors leading to depths unknown. He turns to the group and asks:
"Left or right, I'll leave it to you to choose which way to go, either smells just as morbid to my nose. I'll lead with Alis, and the rest of the marching order, you can decide on. I do think that Priyya should remain in the middle so that she can offer the holy assitance we need if called upon."
"Aye, since thar 'taint no wind, it don't mattah ta me none.I be bringin' up th' aft guard."
Morgaard pokes the body with the haft of his axe and nothing happens.
"I'll go check the eastern door first." Alis glides over to the eastern door, her feet clattering against numerous bones strew about the center of the floor and steps around where the two bodies are.
While she is doing so, the little hairs on your arms and the back of your neck stand up. A moment later, as if like a heart-beat, a wave of crackling blue-black energy washes thru the crypt from the south. Flinching with surprise, you feel a momentary tightening in your chest which soo passes, but not before you feel and hear a thunderous impact behind you as the tombs outer doors slam shut.
Glancing back at you from what she was doing, Alis says, "Uh... that wasn't me!" Suddenly, her eyes grow wide and she points to the ground. "The bones!"
Quickly you look down to find that the blue-black energy is still playing across the surface of the bones in spidery waves. A moment later, you hear a clattering all around you as the bones begin to pull themselves together into skeletons. Even more horrifying, the two corpses begin to stand up, but their flesh, musculature, and organs slough away revealing the blood-soaked bones underneath!
As the skeletons rise up around you, you each have time to take one action!
Initiative
MAP: Crypt Room01 #01
Alis swings at the head of the skeleton below her in J14 with her light mace...
...but her attack is early passing just inches above its skull.
Seeing another skeleton rising up on the ledge just north of her sister, Alexis unleashes a telekinetic blast at the skeleton in I15...
...and succeeds in getting its attention.
, Felmor, Priyya, Alis, Alexis, Enemies
Morgaard swings for the more robust, newly-made skeleton in front of Priyya, but axe fails to connect.
, Priyya, Alis, Alexis, Enemies, Morgaard
Felmor feels a tightening in his stomach as his worst fears come to life, but he knows Alis is in trouble, being cut off from the rest of the group. "Hang on Cap'n, I'm comin'.
Seeing Felmor rushing to her aid, Alis calls out, "Thanks sailor!"
, Alis, Alexis, Enemies, Morgaard, Felmor
The only thing that outglows Priyya herself is the odd scar in her hand that looks like the symbol of Sarenrae and burns like a tiny sun...
"Begone! Foul creatures of Darkness, the Lightbringer stands among you!"
From Priyya a blast of celestial energy pours forth, smiting all the undead.
A golden-white bust of energy flashes from Priyya's hand. It strikes the undead like a shockwave blowing the older skeletons to dust and smashing the two new ones to ruin.
The fight is over as quickly as it began!
XP: 216 each
Looking at how ineffectual her telekinetic strike was compared to the power of Sarenrae, Alexis comments, "Well that was... impressive!"
Morgaard exclaims as the bone dust drifts to coat everything in the room in a fine grey-white powder:
"By Torag's Beard, you've quite the gift there lass!"
Morgaard grins from ear to ear, and gives Priyya a hearty pat on the back, knocking a cloud of fine bone dust into the air. After which, he shakes out his beard and dusts off his clothing and armor; chuckling it while doing it.