"Be cautious as we move. There's a vague necromantic aura all around us, and something else I can't define. It is unfortunate this is a site to Torag and not Iomedae. Otherwise I could use Terendelev's scale to consecrate the site."
Mia heads up to Abdul and takes a peek at the injury.
"It should be fine, nothing to worry about.
Now if it were cockroaches fighting it could've been more trouble."
[b]Thank you for your comforting words little one. I am sure I will be fine.p/b]
The water in the basin attracts your attention, but you're not sure why.
Otherwise nothing in the room appears out of the ordinary. You don't hear anything through the door; it looks identically constructed to the exterior door and you'd expect it to work as well. It look like it would swing out towards you, blocking the basin.
Harumph! Horgus looks quieted, but you don't think this is over for him.
To Baradesh: "Do you think they could still be alive, above? My Irabeth, I think she's a lot like you in her devotion to Iomadae and high in the counsels of the Eagle Watch. I last saw her running to fight those blood-red demons."
Baradesh nodded. "We have trained for such an assault as this, the Eagle Watch more than many, for they always feared corruption within the walls. Ah cannae say she'll live for certain, but she has a better chance than many, and her powers would have granted her much protection from the evil roaming the streets."
The Paladin laid a hand on Horgus' shoulder. "Dinnae fash yourself, good sir. My parents were not public about there worship either, preferring to worship Torag in the act of creation. They crafted much in in silent prayer before the demons killed them."
Hefting his axe again, Baradesh focused on the temple. "Speaking of the father of creation," he added, "We had best be ready for whatever beast spreads the aura of necrotics. Ah dinnae much care for the undead, ye ken?"
Azim will have sword in hand.
I will open the door be ready my friends. Undead may desecrate this house but we will clesne them with the fire of Sarenrae and whom ever else one chooses to empower their soul. He looks to Horgus offering a nod. He then opens the door.
Andanan moved directly behind Azim, no longer acting as rearguard.
The doors pulls open easily, exposing a small chapel, lined with low benches. A very thick layer of dust covers the ground, the benches, and the four slumped & motionless figures in the room. Three are the skeletal remains of deceased dwarves, acolytes by the remnants of their finery, emblazoned with the hammer symbol. The fourth is not decayed, and apart from the apparent lack of breathing you would have through he was simply sleeping. He is garbed as a priest of Torag would be, and a beautiful, dust covered war hammer lies by his feet.
His eyes snap open and you can burning hatred there. He stands up and begins walking towards you; leaving his hammer on the floor, but his hands outstretched. The skeletal remains animated with many a scrapping and popping noises and begin the advance towards you with hammers raised.
Recoiling in horror at the site of his kindred rising into lurching unlife, Baraesh readied his axe. The weapon would be next to useless against the skeletons, but would hopefully cleave through that creature's flesh without too much trouble.
Short legs pumping, the Paladin charged the risen Dwarf. "Ye shall know peace!"
Anevia is still outside the building when Barades';s cry rings out. She snaps out of her depressing, readying her bow. Backing up to put her back to one of the cavern wall's and maintaining sight lines both down the corridor you arrived from, and down the entryway of the temple.
The first two skeletons lurch towards the door, clawing their way over benches. Closing ten feet each, with one getting in front of the open door swinging its hammer at Azim.
The second one is directly behind the first.
Baradesh pushes his way past Azim, into the room.
before sweeping his axe through the first skeleton. Separating the spine and scattering ribs in all directions. The skull, pelvis, and legs fall in a heap.
Azim too will have dificulty dealing with the skeleton. He takes a 5' into the room and starts up a battle dance. WIth this he slashes out at the one in front of him.
Asura moves back from the door pulling out her bow reading to shot when she has a chance.
Round 1
HP 8/8
AC 11 T11 FF10 CMD 11
F/R/W 2/2/1
Arcane Bond 1/1
Scale from Terendelev * 3/3
Spells
1st - 2/4
Effects
Meria let's Aravashnial know the situation first. "Four of the dwarves in this temple have risen as undead and attacked us. Beradesh has already defeated one of them."
She then moves behind Andanan for a moment and summons a magic field of force around him. "See if that helps to protect you."
Mia looks as the scene unfolds.
I really should do something....but i'm worried they'll notice.
But i can't do nothing...though being way back could work to my advantage.
"Tjip, fly up and make as much noise as possible, i must avoid the risk of being heard as much as possible."
The little bird flies up, chriping fanatically, as if startled.
Mia holds her hands together and focuses her attention on Abdul.
As modest in tone possible,
Abdul might briefly feel a slight tingling as the ward takes hold.
Meria had placed this particular ward upon Andanan before, while they were training. He knew that, combined with his agility and rocky skin; it made him nich untouchable to most.
He strode into the room confidently and engaged the closest skeleton, staying close to Baradesh. With a hammer raised in his direction, Andanan struck with a heavy backhand mid-stride that shattered bones- the skeleton's ribcage being thrown into disarray by the force of the blow.
Child, Meria, throw your stones at the priest! Andanan urged, knowing the rock's potency against Undead.
Horgus backs into a corner of the entraway out of the way of others. Mention of undead has scared him more than the previous encounters. Asura and Azim are both bottlenecking the doorway, neither has a clear shot, nor a melee target easily visible or reachable.
The final skeleton moves towards Baradesh, clawing at your face with its withered hands.
You feel the claws scrape along your armor, sending up a horrendous screeching.
The priest moves up facing Andanan, but striking at Baradesh.
Scoring a hit with his claws:
. A smell of rotting and decomposing flesh fills your nostrils, despite the healthy appearance of the priest.
Andanan stood his ground and planted his feet firmly; becoming almost as immovable as the stout, stubborn Dwarf beside him. He focused his heavy strikes upon the reviled Dwarven priest, hoping to bring him to rest before he slew Baradesh...
Round 2
HP 8/8
AC 11 T11 FF10 CMD 11
F/R/W 2/2/1
Arcane Bond 1/1
Scale from Terendelev * 3/3
Spells
1st - 2/4
Effects
"Ah yes, the stone!" Meria pulls out the stone from her belt pouch and slings it at the priest.
Baradesh cough heavily. The terrible smell combined with the pain of the claws racking across his flesh was deeply unpleasant , and he knew between the various wounds he'd received he was now reaching a point where his life was in danger. Retreat was, of course, not an option - he'd chosen to take the risks of drawing attacks to himself so that the others would emerge unscathed, and that hadn't changed. Even if Iomadae didn't require her servants to stand and fight as long as it served a purpose it wasn't in Baradesh's nature to fall back.
Still, he wasn't a fool. "If someone could provide a wee touch of healing," the Paladin called out, "I'd appreciate it."
With a grunt of effort Baradesh swung his huge waraxe overhead at the former priest, in the hope that ending it's mockery of life would destroy it's servant as well. "May the Boneyard be kind to thee!"
Azim feels the ward wash over him. Sarenrae seems to be with me. I must help Baradesh. He quickly tubles past trying to fland the skeleton priest. He alos continues to battle dance.
Anevia continues to keep an eye out for anything approaching from the tunnel; while Bardesh lands a blow on the Dwarven priest. However the axe didn't appear to bite as deep as you thought it would, something is very odd about this priest. Both of Andanan's fist connect, but like the axe, appear to do less than expected. Meria's stone explodes against one of the bone piles, scattering legs and ribs further.
When the next turn would come around:
With the ward placed upon Abdul, Mia turns her attention to the crazy priest.
"No, leave them alone!"
Asura now a bit further back in the room lines up a shot.
With the cramped space she trips on a chair as the arrow clanks against a far wall.
The priest completely disregrads the arrow that streak by his head, before clawing at Baradesh again.
While his strikes miss, the movement of his arms continue to waft the stench of death towards you. For all that he moves like the living, you feel he must be something else.
The remaining skeleton claws at Abdul-Azim.
Abdul-Azim scores a strong hit against the priest, the blow appears to have done less damage than you expected, but the priest is still beginning to act a little more erratic and you think the hits are starting to make a difference.
Mia's "request" is completely ignored by the priest.
You're confident that either its warded against such spells or otherwise completely immune.
Free: speak
"That kind of punishment, is that dwarf even alive to be able to withstand that?"
Child, Meria, throw your stones at the priest! Andanan urged, knowing the rock's potency against Undead.
"I dinnae think it is," the injured Baradesh replied. "It smells of the grave." Which meant it was almost certainly resistant to his axe blows...but it wasn't like he had much of a choice against the creature. It needed to be destroyed. Baradesh looked over the priest's garb, and racked his brain to try and remember what such a creature would wear the vestament's of the holy.
Shaking his head, Baradesh invoked the power of Stone. His axe blade glimmered with a crystal edge as he swung, hoping the blade would bite true and the power wouldn't be wasted.
Baradesh's crystal infused strike bites into the priest, severing the spine. As the two half fall to floor the appearance of life fades from the foul creature, revealing a withered corpse. You've heard of such things -- huecuvas. A fate reserved for heretical priests, who not only fell from the church, but turned away from their god as well.
Andanan's fist pummel the final skeleton to dust.
The sickly green glow fades from the temple as the un-living are returned to their rest.
Slumping onto one of the benches in a cloud of dust, Baradesh wiped the sweat from his brow. The wounds inflicted by the snake and now the undead monsters of the temple ached and the Paladin felt slightly overwhelmed. The city was under attacks, monsters below...
Still, he glanced down at huecuva's corpse. "What led ye to such blasphemy that this was your fate?" That was a fate he need never fear. Baradesh's faith in Iomadae pulsed as strong as ever, having seen the granted powers of stone overcome the monster's abilities. He felt sympathy for the monster, but little else.
"If there are nae objections," the Dwarf said after a moment, "Can I have one of the potions from the backpack found back yonder?" Glancing around, Baradesh added, "And maybe a wee break? The snake bite seems to be making me a wee bit queezy."
"I have no issues with that as long as no others do, Baradesh. The potion or the rest, though I am curious." Meria pulls out the scale of Terendelev in her possession. "This scale has the power to consecrate this structure, but I worry in angering Torag to summon this power here, if his power is still present. Does anyone know better than I?"
Azim walks around the temple a bit looking and thinking.
I think it would be fine to concecrate. I don't believe Torag or any other Gods are present here.
Asura nods to Baradesh's request for the potion and as the others debate the remaining power or lack there of in the temple she goes to check the room for anything useful before heading back to the path they had been taking. They still needed to get back up top.
Meria, trust your instincts. Torag would surely not begrudge a sanctifying ritual of a staunch ally like Iomedae.
"A good god would welcome purgement of evil influence in a sanctum. At least... it seems logical to me."
The warhammer that the priest left on the ground when he attacked, is a masterwork warhammer. You find two potions in a pouch along with a knotted gold ring on its finger.
The water in the basin of the entry room, catches your eye. You think it might be holy water.
Abdul-Azim is right; while this place was built to honor Torag; there is nothing left of his presence here.
Asura grabs the warhammer, potions and rings handing them over to whomever is carrying the rest of the gear they have found. "Some potions that might come in handy, the warhammer is of high quality it may come in handy. Also, that water, might be holy being that we are in a temple. Not sure if that would come in handy at all or not."
As she passes the gear off she starts to head for the door. "I'll start scouting ahead while you all get set."
"That poor creature," Baradesh nodded towards the now fully dead heretical priest, "Must have broken the Consecration on this place when he fell into whatever darkness led to...this fate. Let us Consecrate the building - Torag would like as not hate to know his symbol stands above the undead."
Standing with a groan, Baradesh moved over and claimed one of the Cure Light Wounds potions, sliding it into his belt pouch. He glanced down at the two newly found potions. "I dinnae suppose anyone can tell what potions they be? More potions can never be a bad thing, but I cannae imagine a undead beasty carrying much I'd wish to drink..."
Finally, the Paladin noodded over to Mia. "Can ye cast some heaing magics on me, please? I dinnae think I'll recover enough with the snake venom in me."
"Eh? I'm no holy person that can cast those at will. :/ "
Taking a moment to help Asura divine the nature of the discovered potions, Meria than proceeds to find an appropriate location to center the effects of the scale. "I will trust my instincts, and thank you both for the affirmations."
Once in the location, she kneels a moment first and offers a prayer to the Inheritor. "Goddess of Justice and Valor, in your name and with the aid of Terendelev, I sanctify this place in your name." And with the prayer uttered, uses the power of the scale.
Mia walks up to Baradesh and examines his wounds.
"Ow...that looks hurtful. Wait a sec."
She tears a large piece of cloth from the dead dwarven priest's robe and carefully tears thick stripes from it.
"I doubt he'll mind. Now hold still please."
Could 2 of you help me please to hold his hurts so i can help him better?"
Drink up Baradesh. We should scout ahead further. Finding this temple means we should be getting closer to the surface. This also gives us a fall back point now to rest if we must.
The scale glows softly and then the glow pulses outward light a thin shell of light. As the light passes, you notice that the accumulated dust has been swept clean and the reliefs carved into the stone look brightly and stronger. You feel warded by shield and sword and hammer. You sense this would be a safer place to rest if needed. You hear a faint trumpet call and the and the sound of hammer on anvil. You feel blessed of the gods.
Two more cure light wound potions
Anevia rallies a little in the after effects of the consecration. The feelings of protection that flow from that invocation gives her hope for her wife above.
Nodding to Mia, Baradesh added, "Thank ye. It is good to have those wounds bound." It wasn't much, but it would do.
Looking over at Abdul, Baradesh raised his hand and tilted it back and forth in the human gesture for 'maybe'. "I wouldnae be so certain of that, myself. The Father of Creation is fond of the deep places, after all. But ye may be right. And I dinnae wish to slow us down."
Saluting the party with the potion, Baradesh drank it down.