Traverse the edge to the far side.
Balator makes it safely across.
I also traverse the edge
What do you say Randtam, fancy a swim? Are we sure we even want to go this way? Seems like a lot of bother if we aren't sure.
I hate adventuring...
Benedict makes his way across the pit.
~beep-bop-booop~ Randtam Bot goes across
Take the exit to the West.
The passageway continues West for about 100 feet before it branches again to the North. The Western branch appears to dead end in another 50 feet or so while the Northern branch continues approximately 10 feet before another sinkhole bars further unfettered access. At the sinkhole the catacombs branch off either N or NE.
If you want to cross the sinkhole another traverse roll will be required.
"Shall we continue on or go back and try a different way?"
-would like that wand of fly right about now-
either one, sinkholes are irritating.
Cross and head north.
bring it on
Death by sinkhole; how ignominous...
The catacombs finally open up to a room with a single candle illuminating a large marble tomb beneath an iron grate overhead. The chiseled effigy of a simple foot soldier, rather than an armored knight, adorns the lid of the sarcophagus, and a gigantic sword, rusted and notched, hangs
from hooks over the tomb.
A humble saint was buried in this tomb. Saint Vesbias was a simple foot soldier during the Shining Crusade who took up the gigantic sword of an undead orc general and sacrificed his life so that his unit might escape the onslaught of the Whispering Tyrant’s troops. His grateful friends later recovered his arrow-impaled body, and laid it to rest here in this place of honor.
"I wonder what this guy did?"
Share my knowledge about SAint Vesbias and Shining Crusade.
Eyes of Randtamra
The greatsword detects as magical.
There does not appear to be anything else in the room besides the broken looking sword and the sarcophagus.
detect evil
There is no evil on the blade or sarcophagus, but there is a strong evil presence throughout the room itself.
If no other exits, grab the great sword and head back to the sinkhole and head NE.
Looking for traps before removing great sword.
For heading NE from sinkhole.
The moment that Balator's hand rests on the great sword a blast of chill air fills the room and a mutilated body of a slight-framed foot soldier manifests immediately by him. The soldier's body is impaled by several dozen broken, black-fletched arrows and he wields a massive rusted sword twice the size of the one over the tomb.
The thing screams a hideous war-cry and attacks Balator!
You are shaken by the creatures soul shattering scream.
A shaken character takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. Shaken is a less severe state of fear than frightened or panicked.
On Balator:
No armor bonus against these attacks
"Balator, no...!!!"
Uuranx cries out when he sees Balator reaching for the sword.
Party action
"Saint Vesbias? Why do you attack?"
AC 24 without any armor bonuses
-44 hp
Stand fast Balator!
Use summon 4 superior summoning
Lantern archons
Archons stay out of range and fire lawful good light rays from their eyes/DR 10
Need an Uuranx action.
Uuranx detects evil again
Randtam owes me a DC 25 FORT save.
Randtam's Archons blast the mutilated body with rays of holy light, two of which connect chipping away chunks of armor and 'flesh'. The body is quite evil.
It assaults Balator again!
Seeing his two melee companions standing idle Benedict screams in frustration-Quit waiting for the thing to play nice and destroy it all ready! St. Vesbias, yeah...right!
Casts burst of radiance on far side to catch just the mutilated body.
Eyes of Randtamra around the room.
attack with falchion
last attack
Crit damage = yes.
Crit damage = yes.
More good damage on evil
"Stand fast Balator! Quit waiting and attack Balator! Make up your mind Benedict!"
-85 hp
"Stand fast Balator! Quit waiting and attack Balator! Make up your mind Benedict!"
[dice=ecb]1d20+27
[dice=confirm ecb]1d20+27+4
[dice=dam]2d10+1d6+42[dice=ecb]1d20+22
[dice=confirm ecb]1d20+22+4
[dice=dam]2d10+1d6+42[dice=ecb]1d20+17
[dice=confirm ecb]1d20+17+4
[dice=dam]2d10+1d6+42-85 hp
Balator's fury and the holy light of the Archons destroys the foe.
***end of combat***
Balator=Add 14 more from that last CMW (healer's blessing)
More healing for Balator
So after looking around the room with Eyes of Randtamra again after the evil is gone. Does Randtam see anything? Archons will aid whomever is hurt.
Randtam sees nothing other than what has previously been described.
Can I Identify the greatsword?
Can I Identify the greatsword?
Absolutely-when you rest.
Can I Identify the greatsword?Absolutely-when you rest.
What is the greatsword?
A voice sounds in your head-Greetings noble warrior, I am the true spirit of Saint Vesbias and I inhabit this sword which once belonged to a foul undead orc general.
During the war, when my unit was being overrun, I gave the general his final death and used his own sword to hold back his minions until my friends could escape back to our lines. Unfortunately I did not make it back with them and was slain where I stood.
My comrades rescued my body after the battle and laid me to rest in honor here. Once again misfortune struck and this holy place has been corrupted by the necromantic evil I once fought against. By taking up my blade and driving off the foul spirit that has called this room home you have begun to release my spirit from the dark bondage it has been under. If you wield me I will become more powerful with every undead being we deliver back to death.
You notice that what was once a great sword has now become an elven curved blade. Somehow you know that it is +1.
Randtam uses his magical senses and determines that while the sword holds some magical power currently it reminds him of a mostly empty cup and would seem to be able to contain much more magical energy than it does now. Maybe the evil desecration of this once holy place or maybe from a lack of use and proper care. Whatever the reason the once great sword now elven curved blade appears to have significant potential to increase in power and ability.
Looking at Balator, Randtam chuckles slightly and nods his head.
This may be a very powerful weapon. Wish you luck.
Well Balator you grabbed it. It changed for you. Now I think the weapon belongs to you, or you to it. Whether you chose the weapon or it chose you, this will still have to be determined by fate and the future. I suggest you take good care of it.
Can Randtam do anything to increase the blade's power right now? Is it cursed?
Archons patrol room and use Aid to help any injured.
"Stand fast Balator! Quit waiting and attack Balator! Make up your mind Benedict!"
[dice=ecb]1d20+27
[dice=confirm ecb]1d20+27+4
[dice=dam]2d10+1d6+42[dice=ecb]1d20+22
[dice=confirm ecb]1d20+22+4
[dice=dam]2d10+1d6+42[dice=ecb]1d20+17
[dice=confirm ecb]1d20+17+4
[dice=dam]2d10+1d6+42-85 hp
Randtam doesn't think it is 'cursed' necessarily, but there is something different about it. An energy, aura, or maybe even a feeling. Something he has never seen before in his many years of study or his more recent time adventuring. Rare indeed is a magic weapon that will shift shape for the ease of the bearer.
Randtam fires various cantrips and smaller spells into it but it does not respond. Perhaps with more time and study the blades secrets will be revealed to Randtam. Perhaps not....