The rot grubs prove more difficult to suck up into the whirlwind than Gerdish had anticipates!
Damian swings his scimitar at them, but the creatures are too small for him to effectively hit.
Feena bathes the swarm and Vlad in flames, scorching them badly. Numerous grubs blacken and die, but hundreds still remain and try to burrow into Vlad again.
The elemental takes a little bit of damage in whirlwind form but then returns to its previous amorphous shape. It moves to the side at Gerdish's direction.
Gerdish frowns and begins to summon again.
Marya throws out a burst of healing energy, carefully making sure it only hits her allies and not the swarm.
Coral moves up and throws her Alchemist's Fire.
It was ineffective, but Damian didn't feel like he had many other options - he swats with his scimitar at the roiling mass of grubs again.
Feena panicked as she saw more grubs crawl over Vlad's body and once more sent a wash of flames over him to try and burn the things off.
Though several hundred grubs crawled all over his body and nearby, Vlad stands and holds his position to allow his allies to eliminate this threat. Coral's thrown and Feena's cast fires explode all over him, extinguishing the remaining grubs and ending the encounter.
Gerdish's elemental winks into existence, another foul-smelling creature, with the tell-tale stench of rotten eggs. He moves towards Vlad and crushes a few of the grubs underfeet while the elementals whirl quietly nearby. He waits for the others to decide what they want to do.
"That must have been very unpleasant, Vlad," comments Damian as he kneels by the other man's side to try and tend to him.
She looks with some dismay as Vlad is charred by Feena's spells.
It was the only way. If he likes scars, he now has quite a new assortment of them.
"I can try climbing up if we want... Hopefully Vlad drew the attention of everything that was up there."
Assuming it was clear, Coral takes to retracing Vlad's steps to the upper level. She finds an unusual circular sigils are carved into the walls of this chamber. A four-foot-high pillar lies toppled in the center of the room, cracked into several pieces. Near the fallen pillar is a human skeleton. A small stone door exits to the north.
With no further signs of trouble are imminent, she signals the group to join her on the upper level. Once everyone is up and ready to go, you push forward through the northern door.
The ceiling of this chamber is cracked and crumbling, explaining the massive amount of rubble that blocks the western portion of the room. A single stone door exits to the south. A marble altar, marked with the symbol of a fiery winged sword, is set a few feet from the eastern wall. The floor to the immediate west of the altar is divided into a three-by-three grid of tiles, though many of these tiles are broken and a few appear to be missing.
You've picked up three loose tiles along your trek through the destroyed crypt, a thin, rapier-like blade, a stylized heart and feathery wings.[/ooc]
Damian calls upon his goddess's power to heal Vlad and himself.
Following Coral, the paladin stops to gaze at the tiles. "This looks familiar. We encountered a similar puzzle in the Boneyard, did we not? The rapier and wings I remember, the third symbol... what was it?"
Gerdish grunts, and surveys the area, "any of this make sense to you guys?" He squints, his small, keen eyes, nearly disappearing as he tries to make sense of what's happening.
"Haven't we found some tiles in this cursed place?" He gestures at Damian at least with his gloved hand.
Gerdish's remaining skeleton seems to be standing by patiently, watching the proceedings dispassionately.
Feena saw the last of the swarm burn and then looked down at Vlad. Her flames had burned him badly but it was a choice between that or something far worse. Feena dropped to her knees and gently lifted Vlad's head to rest in her lap as she cried. "I-i-i'm s-s-so sorry Vlad. I couldn't think of what else to do." She was distraught by the harm she had wrought and was ready to use up the last of her magic for healing flames but knew she should hold off unless no one else could help him. As the magic was cast to restore Vlad, Feena watched his burns heal over and hopes he could forgive her for what she had done to him.
Once they moved along and reached the top Feena looked around at what there was to see. She considered the question of the tiles and then said, "I believe the third symbol was a stylized heart that must represent his love. I bet the feathery wings are for the horse while the rapier like blade is his sword."
The Boneyard's version of Roslar's Tomb is a faint, blurry memory to Coral.
She follows her companions and trusts that they know what they are doing.
"A rapier like Arazni's... right..."
"There was a puzzle like this before, I think? Should you just try putting the tiles in the same positions they were in the other Tomb?"
Coral fidgets with her short sword and keeps an eye out for any other dangers.
Coral places the tiles as she recalls them being placed previously. As soon as the third tile is set, a soft click can be heard from the east. Recalling the secret door that lead to a chamber of treasure previously, you are now surprised to learn that the treasure room has become a long dark and narrow passage made of reinforced stone that extends as far as you can see.
It's clear this passageway isn't new and hasn't been used for decades, with cobwebs hanging from the ceiling and dust laying undisturbed on the floor. The passage turns several times and has a few steps here and there, but it never branches.
You travel for what feels like forever, but probably is close to a half-mile or so before the tunnel ends at the back of an obvious secret stone door which opens with a slight push, revealing a stone cellar.
The cellar is clearly part of an entirely new structure as evidenced by its construction. You get the distinct feeling you have left the tomb far behind and you are now somewhere else in town entirely.
Examining the cellar, you note it is 20x20 and largely empty except for a winding, wide staircase that leads up to a level above. You take note that the secret door to the tunnel you followed is exceptionally hidden and unlikely to be discovered from this side of the building. You step back into the tunnel and close the door behind you to regroup.
Relatively confident in her powers of observation, Coral leads the group through the passageway at a decent clip.
"This must the passage between the Tomb and the Bastion of Light."
The halfling thinks back to what the spirit of Roslar's Coffer said.
It may be that a way ahead for your companion lay in the Bastion of Light.
Is there something we can do there to bring Lola back? Or at least help her soul move on to a good place? But it will do her no good if we go in exhausted and get killed.
"It has been a long day. I think we should rest here, and try to restore Vlad's health."
”Sounds like we have a good handle on this little puzzle we have found for ourselves. Definitely interesting how much Roslar was into Arazni. Reminds me a bit of someone.”
Marya charges up a powerful healing spell, finally touching Coral, releasing it into her. Her body’s damaged organs begin reconnecting themselves.
”There you go, Coral. Vlad, I’ll get you in the morning. I’ll prepare a couple for tomorrow.”
"Thank you, Marya."
As they seemed to have a handle on how to complete the puzzle and founda safe place to rest Feena said, "While I don't have much magic left I do have some. I can heal us as much as I am able with it before we rest."
14 back
7 back
"I'll use up what's left of Sarenrae's blessings for today, as well," adds Damian.
Gerdish frowns when everyone recommends resting, but as he sees how Vlad is hurt, he puts down his shovel, and with a snap of his fingers - the bone automaton disappears. He moves to the side of their makeshift camp, and leaning against the wall, drops to a seated postion - resting his arms on his knees. "Well, as good a time for shut-eye as we can get for a while - I agree." He then sits quietly, lost in thought, until he's ready to sleep.
You all head back through the secret passage and secure the door behind you. Spreading out in the cramped space of the tunnel the best you can, you pull out your blankets and rolls and pass out to sleep.
The following morning once everyone is awoken and prepared, you head back through the secret door into the cellar once more. You head up the wide spiral staircase for about fifteen feet before the room opens up before you into a massive chamber.
The ceiling in this wide chamber is supported by two rows of sturdy stone pillars and slopes downward from the south to the north. A sun depicted over the large stone double door to the south emits rays along the ceiling to a raised wooden dais at the north end of the chamber. Many of the walls have been painted with murals made to resemble stained-glass windows, each depicting a different armored knight aiding the downtrodden and slaying foul undead in the service of Sarenrae. A few of these depictions have been grotesquely defaced, with skulls painted over the figure’s heads and terrifying creatures swooping down from above. Rows of broken wooden pews occupy the center of the chamber, with many heaped into a jumble in the middle of the chamber, creating a large empty space. Simple wooden doors exit this room in every direction.
An enormous monster stalks the cathedral. This hulking humanoid towers at a height of ten feet. Its body is thick and hairless, its gray hide flushing with crimson along the arms and legs. Strangely tiny bat-like wings jut from its shoulder blades while its gangly claws swing down to its ankles. Three separate pairs of dead eyes stare from its head, and its flesh is withered and rotting in places--it's clear that the beast is no longer among the living.
Behind it, you spot two Whispering Way cultists, alongside a scholarly-looking undead woman.
The monstrous zombie quickly notices your presence. With a rumbling groan, it begins to rush towards you!
Acting quickly, the two cultists drink potions and disappear from sight. The undead woman moves to take cover among the broken pews, casting a defensive spell and surrounding herself with a shimmering aura of black energy.
When they awoke from their rest and prepared to continue their exploration Feena cast her only defensive spell and indicated she was ready to go. She followed along, staying towards the back of the group, and was horrified by the monstrosity they saw. Even worse her attention was attracted when two people in the back vanished after drinking a potion and the third, obviously undead, ducked down behind a pew and cast a spell.
Damian says his prayers when they awake, beseeching the Dawnflower for protection in this terrible place. The sigh of the desecrated chapel is like a physical blow for the paladin, and he stares around in dismay before he notices the huge lumbering creature.
After they wake, Gerdish takes a sip a flask, and then shakes his head as if clearing it, and then, Gerdish reapplies a tincture of bone paste which seems to harden his skin, like dead wood. He also pops a small, white ball into his mouth and crunches it.
He withdraws a pinch of material from a pouch on his jacket, and blows it, and Dead Bob and Dead Bill are back. He nods and says simply, ”ready.”
Having little else of value to do at the moment, Coral uses Warrior Spirit to make her sword Undead-Bane.
Gerdish steps up slightly next to Vlad, and dragging the knucklebone of some misshapen giantish creature, out of a pouch from his bandolier, his gloved hand crushes the bone, covering it with sparkling dust. He slaps Vlad on the back, and the white print sticks - expanding and then covering the barbarian with a thin sheen of dust.
Suddenly, Vlad doubles in size... though not without all side effects. It looks like he's slightly misshapen in parts, as if the magic isn't perfect. The white dust disappears, but Vlad remains large.
She throws up her sword to inspire everyone to join battle.
The woman in the pews glares at Gerdish and calls out "Gerdish! What are you doing?! Stop screwing around!" as she casts a spell and looses several missiles that fly around the large grey creature and slam into Bob. The large creature moves up and chomps down on Bob's upper body, breaking him into dozens of tiny bone fragments.
The two cultists that turned invisible are clearly outlined by Feena's spell. Frustrated at their lack of cover, they stumble forward to take cover behind to large pillars instead.
The creature seemed very dangerous! Damian keeps his back to the wall as he sidesteps, taking cover behind Vlad's enlarged form as he aims an arrow at the monstrous undead coming for them.
Gerdish twitches and gestures when the woman’s minion obliterates his, but a moment later, Dead Bob reforms from the shards. He frowns and spits on the ground, then grabs another potion from his bandolier, shouting at the woman, ”you can tell Valthazar that our deal is off -I no longer need the position - these people accept me and having me near them. Unlike the other fools of Roslar’s Coffer…”
He quaffs there potion, the wipes away the dust with the back of his hand, ”Xertala, your minions are weak, the grave has taught me much since we last met.” He also steps back, a little, and it seems like he’s trying to position himself to approach the cultist near the pillar from the other side.
Dead bob, eyes shining with a now purple light, claws at the big monster.
Dead bill steps up and tries the same.
Seeing a chance to do some significant damage to their enemies Feena chanted and gestured and a bead of red lanced out from her palm. When it reached it's destination and exploded in a roiling ball of fire.
Coral dashes in and strikes at the giant zombie, dodging and weaving.
Given that Dead Bob and Dead Bill did not soak up the AOOs, Cora will try to dodge (using Acrobatics to avoid AOOs on the last 5' of her movement).