Vanyan waits, wondering if he will tend to Vinas again should the man faceplant into another horse's hoof. He may or may not, but does ready himself to handle the big bug upstairs.
When others are ready, he will bring his light box and follow the others outside.
|
Donning the armor the group readies themselves to head up the stairs to face off against the sort of bug that held it's own against a celedon!
This long room has a single bench against the eastern wall. Several plates of gleaming metal hang from wires in the ceiling, like barding in the shape of a fearsome metal bull. The plates twist like wind chimes, creating a dull clanking. Stairs lead steeply downward to the west, and a single door stands in the southern wall.
This hanging sculpture is made from the hide of a gorgon that Roslar killed during life. The alchemical silver masterwork longsword that Roslar used to kill the gorgon is lodged in its hide.
Speaking to Number 3, Atium looks him over and a level of concern enters his tone. Concern for the metal protection golem.
Number 3. Are you in discomfort from the damage? I think I see where some joints are scraping together and are out of place. It looks like it could be painful.
If there's a way to help you, I promise- when everyone is safe - I'll come back and try to ease some of your issues.
Atium stays to see what #3 says, and then moves up the stairs to see the Gorgon room.
Oh gypsyknight. This thing looks very dangerous. It's obviously a trap.
He whispers directly to Vinas- who should be next to him.
Should anything move- or the gorgon move, I'll distract it, while you pull out that sword. Once you have the sword, I'll get out of harms way. Sounds like a plan?
Vinas tests the feel of the armor, stretching and swinging as the party advances. . He's clearly too preoccupied with the armor and shield.
Seeing the gorgon's corpse, he holds his blade ready, "Don't worry. I've learned at least that lesson."
|
|
Number 3. Are you in discomfort from the damage? I think I see where some joints are scraping together and are out of place. It looks like it could be painful.
If there's a way to help you, I promise- when everyone is safe - I'll come back and try to ease some of your issues.
Number Three looks curiously to Atium. "Do not feel the need to go out of your way for me. I can still continue with my vigil." The metal creaks sharply as Number Three stands, watching you ascend the stairs. "Clearing the tomb of those pests will be helpful enough."
Perception
"Don't worry. I've learned at least that lesson."
Vanyan is about to say something, but doesn't after seeing movement in the sculpture. Maybe graverobbers don't deserve warning after warning after warning. Maybe they deserve to get what they have earned.
Let's see what you have learnt.
Conditions = None
Weapon Equipped = Crossbow
Silver Blanch, Cold Iron Bolts = 5/10
Normal Bolts = 5/10
Crossbow: Attack: BAB +1, Dex +3, Masterwork +1 Damage: +0 (crit 19-20 x2)
Melee: Attack: BAB +1, Str +0 Damage: +0
Grit = 1/2
Aishe nods as Number Three accepts their, well, robbery. If he accepts it, I suppose so must I. and with that the decision is final in his mind.
”Yeah, let’s not mess with the crystal though, OK?” he asks of Vinas before proceeding to the edge of the room and peering around.
He looks to see if anyone else has noticed. Shrugging, he lines up his crossbow and quietly warns, "There's something moving in the sculpture."
Then he calls out, "You there! In the sculpture! Climb down and we might not kill you! Do not resist!"
Then he laughs at the ridiculousness of it all, as nothing they've faced so far speaks their language.
|
|
Though Aishe gets no resonse from his demands a creature within wriggles free. This monstrous caterpillar’s dark-scarlet bristles drip with thick, dangerous-looking venom. It falls to the floor with a squelch, and irritably attacks anyone it sees.
Unlike normal caterpillars, voracious giant horn caterpillars don’t pupate into butterflies. Instead, they remain in their wormlike forms for their entire life cycle, growing between each molt until they eventually reach the size of large dogs.
Horn caterpillars feed on the hooves and horns of dead ungulates, which they usually scavenge from corpses. Their sharp mandibles allow them to effortlessly shear through tendon and bone.
Vanyan
Atium (9/14; raging 11/16)
Tessenarin (8/8)
---------------------------------------------
Caterpillar
---------------------------------------------
Vinas (6/15)
Aishe (7/10)
Seeing the venom dripping from this things mandibles, Atium has heard stories among his folk and kin of being able to amp up the body to such a heightened state. While in that state of rushing and warm blood, poisons either work faster (killing the person quicker) or a lot slower, even becoming in-effective.
So, he goes for broke.
Shakra Bull
and charges the thing with both hands around his axe and swinging down on the caripace.
Grab the f$*&ing sword like we planned!
Round 1
Know (Nature)
”Why aren’t you fighting, Vinas?! I thought took the armor to help us get out of here. Wasn’t that your reasoning for robbing Roslar!?” Vanyan does not hold back as the graverobber doesn’t help.
He moves up 5’ step to aid Atrium’s attack with his longspear.
vs. 10 to aid Atium’s attack
Looking over, Vinas looks like he's stuck, mentally. His forehead bears more sweat than normal. His eyes narrowed to slits. His head snaps at Vanyan's words...
|
|
With the reflexes of a man used to dodging horse hooves for a living and his axe splits right through the horn caterpillar with ease. Gore and fur puff out as the caterpillar quivers a couple times before falling still.
Vanyan
Atium (9/14; raging 11/16)
Tessenarin (8/8)
Vinas (6/15)
Aishe (7/10)
”Nice hit, *Wank*,” Vanyan says as he keeps his longspear ready until the beast stops quivering, happy when it finally dies.
With no one hurt more, Vanyan is ready to move on.
”I wonder if that thing dug the hole that the blue guys crawled through. You think?”
Aishe isn't surprised when a giant insect crawls down, but he is a little when Atium cleaves it with but a single blow. Impressive!
"Yes, nice blow there." he looks around further, making sure nothing else is moving before entering the room and providing cover for the next doorway. "Maybe the bug came from above? I dunno, it seems like we were snuck in as well somehow. Or transported magically."
Atium calms down with the death of the bug.
Thank you for the compliments. I was mostly worried about the poison. That poison looked nasty. Anyone see anything? Vinas, you grabbing that sword?
"I.... I...." I'm in the armor of a Knight of Ozem. Is this real? Iomedae, I don't pray to you, not like I did as a child. Give me something. Anything.
"Yes." Vinas takes the sword. He looks at the others. His voice a little more focused. "Yes. Now, let's go. There are questions in need of answers."
He takes a step, then stops. "Hey, what's the count on the healing potions?"
"Did anyone ask Three about if there is anything else of which we should worry after this giant bug we killed? We should prepare if necessary."
Tessenarin looks at Vinas and slightly smiles. "you seem quite thirsty. Are you well enough to continue?
"Aye. I'm feeling good now, all things considering. Come, let's go. I'll lead."
|
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Vinas leads the way south into the Grand Hall. The walls of this wide room are covered with murals depicting a man performing a variety of heroic tasks: driving a sword into a fearsome metallic bull, defending a village from a scowling spectre, delivering an impassioned speech to several knights, and so on. The man has a large mustache and flowing hair, and wears a breastplate adorned with the symbol of a winged rapier. The western end of this room contains an enormous statue of the man atop a rearing horse, carrying a lance in one hand and a shield in the other. Hallways exit this room to the north and south; both immediately bend to the east. Doors stand in the north and south walls.
This hall presents many of Roslar’s heroic deeds. The statue depicts Roslar atop his favored steed, the graceful stallion Abdell. Vinas nearly jumps out of his skin. Upon entering the room the statue begins to move as if briefly alive. Roslar dips his lance and raises his shield, while Abdell gives a faint, ghostly whinny.
A simple bowl for offerings still contains a few gifts:
The room to the south hangs open wide. A small, dry font juts from the south wall of this room, in the center of a mural depicting the interior of a chapel. On the west wall hangs a large square mirror with an ornate gold frame. This font was a basin where visitors paying their respects to Roslar were expected to wash their hands and faces; the chapel depicted in the mural replicates the interior of a now-demolished chapel to Aroden in Vigil.
Being the murder-hobos you are the mirror looks to be worth 150 gp, but it is bulky, weighing 80 pounds and would likely weigh someone down stealing it.
Vanyan
Atium (9/14; raging 11/16)
Tessenarin (8/8)
Vinas (15/15)
Aishe (7/10)
Vanyan initially jumps at the movement from Roslar and the whiny from Abdell.
"That's strange, ain't it?" Vanyan says as he holds his lightbox out so that his eyes have more to see. "Did anyone see that too? Hear that?"
Vanyan pauses to speak to the statue of Roslar, while trying to find the source of the movement.
"Don't you worry, Roslar, I'll see that your treasures are returned…not all who live in the shadow of your deeds are graverobbers," Vanyan explains to the statue, not taking any of the offerings. "There is a mess downstairs, but we'll see about getting it cleant up. Maybe I'll speak to the Mayor about it."
Perception
Spellcraft w/Detect Magic
Tessenarin picks up the scroll and casts read magic and begins to peruse them.
"these could be helpful if we suffer certain kinds of injuries that are not exactly like wounds from blades. They are of a divine nature, however, and I am unable to use them."
Vinas- except for the curled mustache, you look just like the statute.. you've got the armor, you've got the shield, you have his sword too. You just need to find his lance and you will have the whole set!
Atium lets the others do their thing. If the statue is not attacking, he's not attacking it.
Aishe too watches the stallion and its rider carefully. "This place is huge, and quite the, uh, impressive? Is that the word I want? I mean this guy has no faults if you believe half these murals. Quite the hero."
He wonders at the scrolls as he moves into the room a little. He stands, crossbow raised, and watches as the others search.
He doesn't see much, as his mind wanders over Roslar's tomb. Does it matter that we're taking these things? Roslar can't use 'em. And we certainly can.
He's less sure about the cash though. That makes him uneasy, but he says nothing as he's not sure in his own mind. He frowns.
"It is refreshing to enter a room and not be attacked for once. It seems we have two similar exits. Is there a preference?"
Indeed, Vinas spends a fair amount of time looking at the art. His hands reaching out to not quite touch it.
"These are okay to take. This means we're meant to be here."
He snaps out of his reverie, "Come. Answers await those bold enough to find them."
Tessenarin watches Vinas examinig the art.
"You have a very interesting sense of destiny. Are you all right? I hope we find out soon if you are correct. Or at least WHY we are here. Now, which way?
"We go left first." His voice is confident.
|
|
Inspecting the statue Vanyan finds that the effect is more magical in nature as an ancient enchantment seems to provide the effect when any living creature draws within 10 feet of the statue.
Grabbing the gold, poison and scrolls Vinas leads the way north down the left hallway.
Both passages connect in the same room. A grand metallic double door stands in the east wall of this chamber, while hallways exit to the north and south. A statue of a proud knight with flowing hair and a large mustache stands in an alcove in the west wall, atop a short pillar bearing a metal plaque: "Ervin Roslar: Paladin, Hero, Martyr."
Two skeletal celedons stand vigil here. They seem surprised to see people coming from deeper inside the tomb as they face the doors. "Interlopers! Explain yourselves!"
Tessenarin, fearful of Shelyn knows what Vanyan will say, speaks up.
"Hello. We find ourselves lost and confused. All of us believe we went to bed last night in the town of Roslar's Coffer, but we awoke in this tomb. We do not know how we arrived at this location and seek to escape the tomb to return home. We have fought some blue skinned creatures as well as some deadly insects while here. We would be grateful for any assistance you can provide us in returning home."
Vanyan lets Vinas explain why he’s decided to rob the place blind, as if there is any justification at all.
I’m too weak to stop them from robbing. But I can bear witness.
"We are not trespassers by choice. We awoke within, and have had to fight for our lives to get out of this tomb. We apologize for our transgression. Truly though, something put US in HERE. You likely know more than us."
Nice statue. Aishe muses wondering if there's an unattractive side to this man.
"What he said is true. We're trapped down here, and just trying to get out. Number three, down below, let us by as we helped him out with some, ah, rodent problems."
vs DC 10 to aid Vinas.
|
|
The celedons' response seems to be to advance menacingly with short swords drawn. "You will regret desecrating the tomb of this Hero."
Aishe (7/10)
Atium (9/14; raging 11/16)
------------------------------------------
Celedons
------------------------------------------
Vanyan
Vinas (15/15)
Tessenarin (8/8)
Round: 1
Conditions = None
Weapon Equipped = Crossbow
Silver Blanch, Cold Iron Bolts = 4/10
Normal Bolts = 5/10
Crossbow: Attack: BAB +1, Dex +3, Masterwork +1 Damage: +0 (crit 19-20 x2)
Melee: Attack: BAB +1, Str +0 Damage: +0
Grit = 2/2
Aishe delays until after Atium to see what he does. If he moves in and attacks, Aishe takes his old position in the line, and shoots at the same one Atium attacks.
(cover, point blank) (point blank)
...very nearly shooting Atium in the back. "Sorry!" he calls out.
If Atium doesn’t move, Aishe will double move around toward the other side of the hall.
Atium really wants to work on diplomacy. Or at least logic. Like the logic that "something weird happened" because normally we shouldn't be behind you in this tomb.
Trust us, we ALL regret being in this tomb against our will.
But, I would bet a Dotort Charger that we know more about Roslar than the two of you! I'm not trying to hurt you, but I'm also not going to let you poke me with that sword.
He goes in with his axe to break the thing's blade.
|
|
Aishe fires a bolt against the wall, it splinters sending a small shard into Atium's cheek.
Atium brings his axe down hard onto the celedon's shortsword. Sparks fly but Atium doesn't manage to crack the metal at all.
The green hued celedon reaches out to touch Atium's shoulder. "Be at peace."
Atium shrugs out of the way, avoiding not only the touch but a swiping blade coming near his ribs as well.
Aishe (7/10)
Atium (9/14; raging 11/16)
------------------------------------------
Celedons
------------------------------------------
Vanyan
Vinas (15/15)
Tessenarin (8/8)
Round 1, Init 11
Seeing daylight and a way to the doors behind the foes, Vanyan spins and double moves around the back way, hoping he can help from the other side.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"This didn't have to come to violence! But violence will be met with the same!"
He steps in and swings his older longword. , but the attack is poorly timed.
"Aishe, please move to to allow me a better shot. I do not wish to step in front of you."
Atium grips the axe tighter with both hands. He keeps crashing down on the short sword to break it.
Rotate around them Vinas. Get to better position behind them!
Atium will take a 5 foot step over if Vinas moves also.
Power attack CMD - Green Celedon
Sunder Damage.
Sunder weapon
Axe does times 3 crit.
A deafening sound is heard.
SHATTER! Part of the sword goes flying 30 feet away. The only thing left is the hilt and crossbar.
Green Celedon Number 2- Thank your lucky stars I don't want to kill or hurt you. Surrender, so I may leave and you can continue on your mission!
|
|
Vanyan rushes around the opposite direction while Vinas blade creases into the metallic skeleton.
Atium raises his axe once again as the celedon raises his shortsword to block the blow. Enraged, though not actually raging, Atium brings his axe crashing down into the blade. the celedon is caught even more surprised as his sword is shattered, sending metal shrapnel bursting across the room.
Aishe (7/10)
Atium (9/14; raging 11/16)
------------------------------------------
Celedons (Red -4)(Green- shortsword destroyed)
------------------------------------------
Vanyan
Vinas (15/15)
Tessenarin (8/8)
Round: 2
Conditions = None
Weapon Equipped = Crossbow
Silver Blanch, Cold Iron Bolts = 3/10
Normal Bolts = 5/10
Crossbow: Attack: BAB +1, Dex +3, Masterwork +1 Damage: +0 (crit 19-20 x2)
Melee: Attack: BAB +1, Str +0 Damage: +0
Grit = 2/2
Aishe takes a 5’ step forward to giveTessenarin his spot "Sorry", and shoots, followed by the usual reload. He's shooting the one who still has his sword.
(cover, point blank) (point blank)
(cover, point blank) (point blank)
He grins widely as his bolt strikes home with a satisfying crunch. I'm helping! a wide grin crosses his face for a moment.
|
|
Aishe snaps off a bolt. the force is enough that it punctures right through the metallic eye of the celedon.
Tessenarin moves in behind Aishe and fires an arrow right over hiis shoulder. The arrow finds its mark in the celedon's chest as it becomes riddled.
The celedon falls. Loyal and fearless the unarmed celedon steps over it's fallen comrade. Reaches out for Atium once more. "You do not belong here!"
Missing once more he reaches down and retrieves his fallen comrades blade.
Aishe (7/10)
Atium (9/14; raging 11/16)
------------------------------------------
Celedons (Green- shortsword destroyed)
------------------------------------------
Vanyan
Vinas (15/15)
Tessenarin (8/8)
Round: 3
Conditions = None
Weapon Equipped = Crossbow
Silver Blanch, Cold Iron Bolts = 2/10
Normal Bolts = 5/10
Crossbow: Attack: BAB +1, Dex +3, Masterwork +1 Damage: +0 (crit 19-20 x2)
Melee: Attack: BAB +1, Str +0 Damage: +0
Grit = 2/2
Aishe holds his ground, shoots again hoping for the best, and reloads.
(cover, point blank) (point blank)
The bolt banks off the wall and he shrugs, his luck returning.
Vinas doesn't miss a beat, and comes back with a quick stop cut on the back swing for
He presses hard, turning the blade again, for
Atium follows Vinas's lead and swings his Axe to take advantage of the thing bending over and revealing it's back. No longer trying for power, but accuracy.
He moves 5 feet to get better position.
You don't belong here.
To which Atium sarcastically remarks.
Yeah! We are Leaving!