Though Aralah doesn't notice anything, Mithralline and Sam both hear something coming from between the sarcophagus and the wall to the east. The darkness hides whatever it is though, the charger unable to see what lay ahead.
Aralah pulls out her torch and removes the cloth covering it again, then tosses it to the other side of the sarcophagus in order to see what is back there.
Aralah's torch flies through the air and hits the wall behind the sarcophagus before falling down behind it. When the torch hits the ground a creature that resembles a small snake bursts out of the north side of the sarcophagus. Its body is made of overlapping plates of bone, and its eyes are pinpoints of red light.
The snake quickly slithers west towards the wall and lunges at Mithralline as it attempts to bite her. The disciple of the pike is able to dodge out of the way in time to cause the creature to miss.
Aralah looks back at Rose "Can you give me some room?" she asks wanting to step to where Rose is to get a better shot at the bone snake.
Laurel makes sure their rangers have a clear shot, then moves in next to the snake to try to behead it with his curved blade!
HP 13/13
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16, CMD 16 (+1 dodge bonus against Large creatures; +2 vs. Huge or bigger creatures)
Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +0
Challenge: 0/1; Tactician (4 rounds): 0/1
Effects:
Having decided she might be a bit more effective with the mace, Mithralline pulls it out again, slamming it down toward the snake but still struggling to get used to the unfamiliar weapon.
"Keep them off me!" she calls. "I need some space to operate."
She steps back, hoping for the chance to switch out her weapons again.
Sarela considers a moment, then looks at Mithralline and says, "I have a feeling you'll get lucky in this fight!" She then giggles somewhat madly.
Sam looks concerned as the snake darts forward. "Don't be afraid! We'll make sure you're all alright!" Energy pours from her, encouraging her friends.
Aralah doesn't recognize this creature unfortunately, it appears more magical in nature than undead.
Laurel's blade strikes the snake, but it doesn't seem to injure the creature due to denseness of the natural bone plates that comprise its body.
Sarela gives Mithralline a second chance to recover from her soon-to-be unfortunately swing that would result in a miss.
Aralah looks back at Rose "Can you give me some room?" she asks wanting to step to where Rose is to get a better shot at the bone snake.
Rose touches Aralah casting Resistance, steps back, and says, "I hope the snake isn't poisonous, but that should help a bit in case it is."
Aralah moves back and takes a shot at the snake thing.
Sarela can't see the creature from her current position, so she moves south to get a line on it. Once she does so, she recognizes this creture instantly.
The cobra is a simple construct that resembles a hooded cobra made out of bone. The bone cobra is typically used as a bodyguard or guardian of treasure, though its magical ability to unerringly locate creatures means it is also used as an assassin. Since a cobra’s poison reservoir can contain multiple types of venom, the construct’s specific use can be further tailored by varying the poison used.
Aralah's shot lands on the snake creature, inflicting only about half as much damage as the inquisitor would have expected it to.
The snake lunges forward and tries to pierce Laurel's forearm with its sharpened bone fangs, but the creature isn't fast enough and Laurel withdraws his arm before the creature can close its jaws on him.
"That's a bone cobra! They're simple constructs that are typically used as a bodyguard or guardian of treasure. They can magically and unerringly locate creatures, meaning they can be used as assassins as well. Their poison reservoir can contain multiple types of venom! Rose, that spell you cast to help defeat poison should come in handy."
"Aralah, since it's made of bone, those blunt arrows of yours might be helpful. The mace might, too."
Sarela reloaded her crossbow, then giggled somewhat madly again.
Laurel raises his shield defensively wand waves his scimitar threateningly. "I can't hurt it, take it down!"
HP 13/13
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16, CMD 16 (+1 dodge bonus against Large creatures; +2 vs. Huge or bigger creatures)
Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +0
Challenge: 0/1; Tactician (4 rounds): 0/1
Effects: Bless, fortune hex
Fortune continues to not favor Mithralline as she struggles with the unaccustomed weapon and she drops it in frustration, pulling out her trident instead and jabbing with it.
The switch immediately pays off, though she doesn't put enough power in the blow.
Mithralline is able to hit it this time, but she isn't able to do any damage to it with the piercing spear.
Aralah nods to Sarela's suggestion and pulls out a blunt arrow this time as she takes aim.
However, now with Laurel in direct combat with the snake Aralah aims too low to avoid hitting him and misses the snake completely in the process.
Rose momentarily contemplates drawing and firing her bow at the bone cobra.
"I can see it now, Aralah goes down with an arrow in the back. Perhaps you should practice patience instead of being the impulsive hot head for once. Do you see what it did to you last time or have you already forgotten?" comments the invisible voice.
Growling in frustration at her inability to contribute to the fight, Rose moves enabling her to see Laurel and Mithralline clearly in case she needs to teleport them out of danger if they fall due to the cobra or its poison. Her position gives her a prime spot to whack the skeletal cobra if it comes out of the room.
"I hate being on the sidelines cheering on others," mutters Rose under her breath.
"But you look cute in short skirts," mocks her friend.
Her eyes narrow in anger at the barb.
Unable to see what's going on or help much, Sam rushes over to Aralah "Are you alright? What's happening? Stay safe!"
The snake keeps its glowing red eyes on Laurel, never wavering despite all of the other distractions around it. It's head sways back and forth as he moves slightly, waiting for the opportune moment to attack.
Suddenly it snaps at Laurel again, once more unable to connect with the cleric's skin, missing.
Trying a blunt arrow again Aralah pulls back the string of her bow.
Apparently between Sam's blessing and other magical aid, it helps Aralah thread the shot while avoiding hitting Laurel.
HP 13/13
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16, CMD 16 (+1 dodge bonus against Large creatures; +2 vs. Huge or bigger creatures)
Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +0
Challenge: 0/1; Tactician (4 rounds): 0/1
Effects: Bless, fortune hex
Mithralline stabs down again, this time with more power.
Aralah’s second shot nearly extinguishes the light from the eyes of the snake, but it still remains upright. That is, until Miltralline’s trident turns the red lights off for good and shatters the bone snake into a dozen fragments of bone.
With the threat dealt with Aralah moves into the room, checking the sarcophagus for traps and seeing if that is where the putrid smell is coming from. As she does she adds her own two cents on looting the tomb "I think we should take whatever we find, in all honesty anyone here is no longer going to need the items and they could be of historical significance. We can sell them to a museum where they can be appreciated by future generations rather than rotting away in an abandoned and dangerous tomb. The money we raise by selling them to a museum will help off set costs incurred."
She looks back toward the others momentarily to drive the point home "If one of you were to be cursed or worse, die, would you rather us leave valuable items out of respect or take them to sell and help you?" She shrugs not waiting for an answer while she turns her attention back to the task at hand.
With the snake dispatched, the putrid smell in the room seems to be dissipating.
Aralah searches for traps, but finds nothing dangerous or immediately threatening.
Other than the broken bones of the former cobra and then golden sarcophagus, nothing else of interest is visible in this eastern room.
Realizing the smell was coming from the cobra and not finding any threats Aralah opens up to sarcophagus and takes a look inside for anything of note.
"That's a good point," Mithralline concedes. "Not that I plan to die, but my weapons will do you more good getting out of here if you need than just lying with my body."
She picks up the mace and looks at it. She shakes her head with a frown but again clips it to her belt. She regathers her lance and rests the butt end on the floor as she waits to see what Aralah finds.
"I suppose one of you would have to tell my parents too, in Vigil," she says after a few more moments.
"What about the rest of you? I guess we don't need to worry about being buried, since we're already in a tomb..."
Laurel nods in thanks to the others. He was glad he took a defensive stance, else he would be bleeding now.
At the question of taking the valuables he hesitates. Graverobbing? But is it worth it to honor the dead if it makes us join them? He lowers his weapons and looks to the ground. I know what Thras would say. I know what the monks would say too.
"I think this tomb is already restless." He finally says. "The dead do not rest and this is a place of necromancy and evil. Taking valuables cannot do any more harm than has already been done."
Sarela considers, then says, "Alright, but only if the items might be of historical importance. Otherwise, we leave it in the tomb."
"I don't have any family left, really. My father died defending Roslar's Coffer from the orcs twelve years ago, and my mother of illness a couple years back. The only people you'd really need to notify of my death would be Rose, here, and Sir William Arcasius, one of the paladins in the garrison at Roslar's Coffer."
Samalgee breathes a sigh of relief when the snake misses Laurel. "Phew... that was crazy! A machine made of bone to kill people? Maybe it was made by accident... That's just too crazy... Wizards make mistakes all the time, right?"
When the treasure is discussed, Sam considers what the others are saying. "Well I guess if it's a matter of helping..." She returns to the previous room scoops up the valuables that they left behind.
When Aralah begins opening the sarcophagus, she leans forward curiously "Ooh what's in there?!"
Pushing on the lid with everything she has causes the heavy object to shift, but not enough to move off the sarcophagus. Setting her feet and pushing again does it, gaining more leverage and moving the lid aside enough to look inside.
The inside the sarcophagus is completely bare, almost as if it had never been used. The interior of the lid is carved with a slender angelic woman with a benevolent gaze surrounded by clouds, looking down as though from a great height. Words around the image read, “Arazni, the Red Crusader, Watch Over My Eternal Rest.”
"Ah so no one is buried in Roslar's tomb. That is definitely the least creepy solution." Then she checks to make sure that everyone is ok.
Sarela exhales a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. "I think we should be grateful for that. With what we've seen of these ostovites, I don't think we'd want to encounter what they made of Roslar's body. Should we check that final room?"
Sarela pointed at the door to the north they hadn't checked yet.
”This looks like where Roslar was supposed to be buried.” comments Rose.
”As far as taking things in the tomb. First, I take my students wandering all over battlefields looking for historical remnants - arrow heads, bits of armor or weapons, and mementos of the participants in the battle. Second, I think that these artifacts are far better used in the teaching of everyone who is living rather than shut away in a grave. We need to know about the people who lived back then and the events that shaped their lives. Third, bringing the treasure to the living is a way for the living to honor, appreciate, and see the dead as people like us. Not some long forgotten crumbling tomb that people don’t even look at anymore.” expounds Rose.
”The dead wish to speak to their descendants and allow them to learn from their lives and in turn make better lives for themselves. That is their legacy to us, their children,” finishes Rose.
Laurel looks into the vacant resting place. "But was it a farce, or was it robbed?" He wonders aloud.
"The rest of immortal souls is more important than education, so normally I would disagree with you Rose, but these souls have already been disturbed." He looks down sadly. "Taking them is making the best of a bad situation. But let us not linger on this topic, we are playing a game of semantics when we are already united in our choice of action. To the final room."
”It was a farce, he was never buried here. It appears the only dead buried here was the horse. Hardly an immortal soul at rest. There is nothing here to honor or be respectful of, barring whatever may be in the final room,” comments Rose.
”I suggest we are a bit more careful and methodical with that room. Careful scouting while the rest prepare in the doorway to meet whatever bug, skeleton, or ghost inhabits that room. ” cautions Rose.
After finding it empty and while the others discuss the empty grave, Aralah moves on to check the next room for any dangers.
Moving out of the sarcophagus room and heading west, Aralah checks the room to the north. Several long stone slabs line the walls of this room like shelves. The shelves are pitted with acid and contain scraps of old cloth. A few chunks of bone litter the floor. A wedding ring that looks valuable and a single bead stand out from the shelves.
"Does it really matter?" Mithralline asks, less interested in the philosphy. "They're dead, and unless we're bringing them back, they're not likely to weigh in."
Shrugging as the conversation continues, she follows Aralah.
"Anything in here?"
Aralah points out the wedding ring and single bead but notes "The shelf looks like it is about to fall apart. Unless someone is fast with their hands they will probably collapse."
She leaves the room for now and goes back to grab her torch before moving to the only other exit. Seeing if the thing that had been there before is still there.
Rose goes over to look in the shelf room, wondering what the shelves were for and asking, "Do you think they put wrapped bodies on these shelves? The bone fragments and clothing scraps would seem to indicate that. Any other ideas?"
She picks up the wedding ring and bead and looks them over including inside the band for possible inscriptions, "I wonder who was married amongst Roslar's companions? Were these lesser companions that were just laid out here without coffins, unlike the ones we woke up in?"
As Aralah leaves the room, Rose enters in. Unable to resist the sight of the two items, she reaches out and grabs them. Being up on a top shelf, she has to stand on her tippy toes and as she drags them off the shelf, the support structure gives way and collapses!
A tremendous cacophony echoes from the northern room as the top shelf hits the middle shelf which shatters and hits the third shelf as a half dozen huge pieces of stone tumble down on top of Rose!
Aralah pokes her head around the corner and takes a note that the fragments of exoskeleton are still there, one of the larger ones glowing red.
Mithralline wracks her brain to see if she remembers any stories about married companions, but comes up empty.
"Rose!" she cries as the woman is crushed under the shelves. "Hold on!"
Dropping her lance, she rushes to lift the rubble off her new companion.
"Sam! Rose needs help!"
Sarela runs into the room where Rose is trapped and says, ”Hold on Rose, we’ll get you out!”
When Aralah hears the crash behind her she promptly returns to see Rose under a pile of stones and the others helping her out. It looks as though the others have things handles and she just shakes her head to herself. She waits until the others take care of Rose before mentioning the glowing red exoskeleton in the other room.
Sam rushes into the room. "What was that?! Rose! Are you ok?!!??" As she rushes into the room, she clutches her small wooden necklace.
Aralah pokes her head around the corner and takes a note that the fragments of exoskeleton are still there, one of the larger ones glowing red.