Introduce yourselves, I'll get my first real post up later.
Justus van Richter is a huge man of towering heights and bulging muscles. His face is framed by short cut brown hair and has a strong chin and clear emerald eyes. An old axe slash has left a scar from her left eye down to her lip. But this does not disfigur him, it merly gives him character.
His voice is in contrast a warm bariton.
He is dressed in a crimson tunic of linnen with golden trim and brown pants in strong boots fit for battle. An enormous burtal axe of clear orcish make is strapped over his shoulder but this martial look is marred by a book of taldan poetry sneaking out of his beltpouch.
Upon seeing Aranor Cruz, the first thing most people notice is her odd coloration. Her hair is an ashy blonde, almost grey in color despite her youth. Her eyes are a pale grey. Her skin, too, is pale. Despite no single feature being particularly unusual, the total effect leaves her looking...faded, somehow. Her beauty only adds to her unearthly appearance.
Those who see her patrolling with the rest of the guard notice instead the giant fauchard she wields. Aranor believes the best way to survive is to not be hit at all, and so she uses the tall polearm to keep foes at bay. If any do make it inside her reach, well, that's what the morningstar on her hip is for.
A young boy with pale grey skin enters the room shakily. The child looks around the room at all the holy warriors assembled. A mix of wonder and queasiness fills his eyes and stomach, respectively.
Where... am I?
Inside Aku's head... the boy sees this young girl again... as she notices him, anger returns to her features... fierce... like a dragon.
Inside Akku's head...
The boy falls to the ground, taken with severe convulsions, frothing at the mouth and flailing wildly!
The dwarven monk sits cross legged, waiting. He wears simple robes and sports a shaved head. He carries a dwarven Warhammer, a curved temple sword, and wears a chained belt with kamas on either end.
He watches the convulsing child for a moment, assessing the situation. After a few seconds, he jumps up and restrains the boy as best he can, attempting to keep him from hitting his head. "It's alright, child." He says in a deep, soothing voice.
The boy recovers after about a minute's time. He appears ashamed, tired and full of despair. Yet, gratitude wells up in his eyes alongside fresh tears upon being the subject of the dwarf's compassion.
Seeing the young man's distress, a giant of a half-orc approaches. Clad in the black garb of an executioner, he carries a massive axe, twin to the one carried by the human paladin. Those who have been in the town long will recognize Grod, a member of the militia who grimly carries out all manner of punishment for the local magistrates, from whipping to the rare execution. Just last night his axe took the hand from a career thief, caught one too many times. While the half-orc was never happy about such things (or anything else apparently), he unfailingly and unhesitatingly carried out all manner of punishments without apparent remorse or mercy.
As the dwarf cares for the pale young man, Grod backs off, feeling his presence unnecessary. He is capable enough at closing wounds, but ailments of the mind or spirit are beyond him. Besides, he knows with what terror some of the townsfolk regard him, and he had no wish to scare the boy.
Easely lifting the young boy to his feat Justus gives him a simple smile.
"As long as you remember to stand up, there is no harm in falling!"
Looking at Grod Justus gives a smile.
"I heard what happened last night. I hope someone at least had a look at his arm. In Ragathiels name, I am thirsty. Just arrived from the fortress. Any news?"
Aranor stares in shock as the child collapses into convulsions. What is a child doing here? Unable to think of what to do, she hangs back as Rali and Justus comfort the boy.
"Just arrived from the fortress. Any news?"
Relieved at this return to normalcy, she turns her attention to the paladin. "None that I've heard. Anything happening at the fortress?"
"What happen'd t' ye, child?" the dwarf looks at the boy with concern.
Grod shakes his head. "Nothing you've not already heard of, it seems. There was, of course a healer on hand to seal the wound. Punishment must be just, and not mere cruel vengeance." the half-orc says, solemnly, mildly offended at the idea that he might let a criminal bleed to death.
The boy looks at the dwarf. "I do not know Sir. Yet I felt compelled to reach this place... after clawing my way out of the soft damp earth in a place called Roslar’s Tomb... outside this town..."
The boy coughs a few times, the memory of dirt still fresh on his tongue. His skin, nails, nose, ears and hair do appear soiled with dirt and mud, but the black shirt and brown trousers are pristine and appear brand new. His shoes, similarly, appear new. The subtle glint of a chain shirt can be seen under his black shirt.
You all meet at the local inn, talking, chatting, whatever. And then you all pass out from all that drinking. Even if you are a non-drinker, someone spiked your drink. You all wake up in Roslar's Tomb in the Boneyard. You all find yourselves in coffins and of course you are able to push the lids open easily. For some odd reason, you have no hangover, no beer breath, no bruises from falling and passing out. You vaguely remember other people at the bar, but you definitely remember each other. There is no physical evidence you were at the bar, as you have no additional hot-wings stains or anything, not even the feeling of being full or bloated from what you ate. Only the memory having been there assuming you didn't dream it. You check your bags, and everything is there. All is darkness and cold stone. Although you vaguely remember what happened at the bar and you remember seeing this exact coffin type at the bar, exact color design and everything.
The cool scent of earth surrounds you.
What...what happened? Aranor had thought she was prepared for just about anything, but waking up in a coffin was proving her wrong. I was just at the inn. That strange child walked in, I was talking with Justus, and...then what?
Coughing slightly, she sits up. Looking around she sees people she recognizes from town, as well as some others who'd been at the inn. It looked like they'd all woken up in coffins. Why? "Hello? Does anyone know what's going on?"
While waiting for answers, she starts looking around the room for anything that might indicate what had happened.
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Sitting upon a coffin in the corner, his posture alarmingly calm, is the musician from the inn last night.
He cuts a strange figure, to be honest; his skin is almost a dull silver in color, and messy black hair frames a handsome face whose age is anyone's guess. His features are young (or at least well-preserved), but his eyes seem positively ancient.
You'd been seeing him around town for the past week or so, but none of you had ever spoken to him - or come to think of it, ever heard him speak to anyone else.
You'd heard his music at the inn, though; it was otherworldly.
Apropos seemingly of nothing, he takes out his pipe, and again begins to play.
The boy followed the dwarf and his friends to the bar after his seizures were over. He was glad to have found some sentient life, although he was unafraid of this world, he stood there without memories, and friends are better than enemies in those circumstances.
The boy picked at whatever food was put in front of him, his appetite non-existent. After an hour or so, he accepted the dwarf's offer to have one of waitresses take him in her quarters for the night, where the lady proceeded to wash the boy and find clothes that were appropriate to his size, for the boy's clothes were meant for men and obviously not fitted properly. The boy insisted to pay the lady, as someone had left coins with him upon his arrival in this world.
His first night in this world was uneventful. He would not find sleep, afraid that his dreams would be invaded by this strange angry girl haunting his thoughts whenever he closed his eyes. In the end, however, the ordeal put on his young body caught up, and he entered a deep sleep. Too deep.
Upon waking, he felt the cold earth again. The second night in a row. Surely he was cursed! clawing his way out of yet another coffin, he looked up. And what he saw was familiar. Much too familiar.
The Boneyard. I have been here before. Why can't I remember?
Like a drunk man stumbling back home after a long night at the tavern, knowing the way but not remembering how he got there, he stepped off the coffin, hoisted his gear on his shoulder, and proceeded to help the others open their caskets.
My soul has traveled yet again... but I am not alone this time. let us walk the streets and find a noisoi friend...
Rali slowly began to wake from his sleep. Sleeping on stone, or in darkness, was nothing new to him. As he began to come more to his senses, he heard the sound of his breath echoing off the stone. He opened his eyes and saw the stone surrounding him. He felt his heart rate start to climb in fear. He took a deep breath and calmed it. Then he reached up and pushed the lid off.
He sat up and surveyed the room.
Grod awakes in an unfamiliar place. My housing may not be luxurious, but it is not this. trying to sit up, he bumps his head on the coffin’s lid. Dropping back for a second, he grasps around, and realizes that he has all his armor and weapons. Rolling over, he gets onto hands and knees and pushes his way out of the coffin. He looks around and sees the others. Looking around, he sees the others. ”Well, I always knew I’d die one day. I never figured I’d wake up in the same old body afterwards.” he chuckles as he glances down at his green hands.
Waking up in almost complete darkness Justus takes a deep breath. "Where in the gods name am I. And why am lying in...is this a coffin? What, I have to get out. Let me out... LET ME ... By ragathiel the lid is open. Butwho are you?
Heroes turn on the light and see no traps, treasure or anything of interest, but they see a door slightly ajar to the west. It is heavy, but can be moved open.
Climbing out his coffin Justus blindly rummages through his beltpouch till he finds a lightstick. With a deft rasp he lights it and looks around.
"Where on Golarion are we? And what thrice damned zombielover did that to us?"
Six people. Six coffins. Nothing else in the room. What is going on?
Aranor's eyes narrow as she catches sight of the child. He came in and said something about 'clawing his way out of the earth.' Then we all wake up in coffins. That can't be a coincidence. Is he responsible for this? But if he's not...then he's just a child.
Moving over to him, she asks as gently as she can given her suspicions, "You. Boy. What's your name? Do you know where we are? What's happened to us?"
Rali makes his way to the door and peeks through.
Who am I? that's a good question...
"I... sorry... I do not remember anything. There's... something written inside these new clothes someone gave me last night..."
The boy shows the inside seam of his left sleeve and the word 'Akku' has been embroidered there in the celestial tongue. The boy appears worried of Aranor's questions.
Aranor hesitates. The whole situation is wrong, and she remains suspicious of this boy's sudden appearance. However, it's not in her nature to bully a child.
If he had anything to do with this, I don't think it was of his own will. He says he doesn't remember anything. Maybe he really is just another victim.
Mind made up, Aranor crouches down to the boy's level and smiles at him. "Akku, that's a nice name. Sorry if I scared you, I'm just...a little confused right now."
Turning to Rali, she asks "Do you see anything out there?"
As Aranor crouches she sees another word embroidered inside his right sleeve, and another one under his collar behind him. The child appears unaware of those two other labels.
"Huh, it looks like there's some other words here. Mind if I take a look?" Assuming Akku doesn't object, she'll read whatever's embroidered on his sleeve and collar.
The name on his collar reads 'Akku' in Taldane, while the word in the right sleeve is in a language you don't know.
While Aranir tends to the strange boy, Grod looks around, getting an idea of their environs.
Assuming there’s nothing else of interest, he’ll head to the door and try to open it.
Rali glances at the sleeve as well.
The mark on the right sleeve eludes both Rali and Aranor. Looking up to Aranor, the boy says, "Akku? that... feels strangely familiar... as if I heard it in a dream before."
The last part is a lie, as the weird angry girl voice in his head has mentioned this name yesterday, before he fell into seizures...
Grod the Cunning opens the door.
This room contains several low shelves covered with rags and loose bones. A hallway extends to the southeast, while a stone door to the east is carved with the image of several heroic figures standing solemnly together. Map is up, slide 5
Rali pads down the hallway and peeks into the next room, motioning for the party to wait for his signal.
Akku follows the dwarf carefully, not wanting to go far from him.
As the angry shouts in his head seem to have abated since he woke up in this place, the cobwebs in his brain seem to clear momentarily... mental dust, leaves and tumbleweed are kicked about, revealing glowing blue runes, mental constructs, psychic crystals and other mind devices of power. He mentally reaches for the nearest one: a glowing hard light orb seething with cool blue radiance. The blue radiance moves from his mindscape to his... eyes!
Aranor whispers to Justus, "Maybe stay back for now. If there's anything out there that light will attract attention."
She moves slightly to where she can see Rali and Akku as they progress. Stealth not being her strong suit, she waits for Rali's signal before moving any further.
Moving very slowly Justus looks out in the gloom."What do you see?"
Gripping his monstrous axe tighter he can not hide his uneasiness!
Rali can stealth forwards as he wants, but creautures are ahead and they are looking this way.
small skeleton fish like animal
two skeletons
Aranor
Ivan
Justus
Akku
Rali
Grod
The skeletons will hit the first person in melee +1 to each slashing if they hit.
Rali strikes back at the skeleton before him with his fists.
Aranor's vision wavers for a second as she looks down the hallway. Unknown situation, narrow hallway...ambush! She Sees the skeletons just a fraction of a second earlier than she ordinarily would have, and is able to act before they get the chance.
Drawing her morningstar, she calls back to Justus. "Skeletons ahead!" Unable to move fast enough to get to the skeletons herself, she touches one of her companions on the shoulder to share a fraction of divine favor.
As the skeletons are already close Justus just turns once and swings his massive axe.
"Skeletons? Let's see how they handle dismemberment." Striding forward, Grod brings his massive axe crashing down at the first skeleton he sees.