Aventail helps where she can, and finds herself in the cathedral. She has little ability to assist beyond carrying necessary items or directing friends and family to wounded parties but does not seem to notice any lack of purpose.
@Bumbo: Miss Barrett replies to your offer, Thank you, but we are fine. My husband was able to grab our baby before the fighting started and get to safety. Our house was far from the fighting. The only thing we were worried about was Petals here. And she is safe, thanks to you. Thank you again. The dog licks your face before trotting off with his owners, the little boy hugging her fiercely as they go.
@Everyone: Father Zantus is effusive with his thanks at the healing potions, and word gets around quickly about the donation. Others come up and give their thanks for your selflessness. (The DC of Diplomacy checks for Sandpoint residents is now lower due to this act of kindness.) The time in the cathedral passes quickly; magical healing is used when needed, but most make due with bandages and ointments as there are just so many with some type of injury.
@Everyone Also: As evening approaches, the cathedral doors swing open once again. This time there aren't more wounded, and those of you working with citizens at the church can't remember the last time those doors opened without more wounded coming in. But the last hour or so has been much less severe wounds, cuts and gashes instead of internal organs suddenly finding themselves exposed to daylight, bones bursting through skin, 3rd degree burns, etc.
Instead, in through the door walks Sheriff Balor Hemlock, 2 of his guards, and any of the PC's that aren't already at the cathedral. He motions to you any of you working with the wounded and for Father Zantus to approach him off to the side of the room and begins. He is serious and blunt in his speech, and is obviously haggard. His clothes and armor are bloodstained and damaged, but he himself seems uninjured (probably received healing of some sort).
About 30 minutes ago, one of the guards reported something strange. She noticed goblin footprints near the back of the church grounds near the wall. She went in to investigate and noticed that one of the tomb doors was open. She came to get me immediately and I came to get all of you. Word around town is you are all able to handle yourselves well, and I'd like you to check to see if there are any threats hiding in that tomb. He motions behind him to one of the guards he brought. Stancy will show you which tomb she saw open. I'll stay near the church door in case anything threatens the people here. Questions?
Aventail bows a little at the mention of their group’s newfound fame.
”Is there a name that goes with the tomb, and if so, was the occupant recently interred?” she asks the sherriff.
Razkiv finds Mizzug fairly easy...she's napping at the sight of their last battle. Once roused, she quickly joins the group at the temple.
"Why widdle guys go dere? Not gobby tomb, issit?"
Raz steps forward tightening the straps of his armor, "I only speak for myself but I'll do my best to root out these green bastards"
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Exhausted from long hours of working as a medic, Dol quietly listens from the back of the group. Understanding the need to investigate, he straps on his shield and hefts his warhammer.
"I am no longer able to work any magic on Torag's behalf, but I will endeavor to provide whatever assistance I can during this investigation."
Nodding to Aventail, who asked meaningful questions, Dol steps back to allow her to lead without interference.
Bumbo listens to the interaction intently, though not nearly as closely at Toot does. The motivated pig anxiously awaits more victims on which to test his abilities.
The gnome furrows his bushy brows a bit as he thinks. So...is this related to the goblins...or is this a new threat entirely?
"Is it really a good idea to go at it right away?" Loth wonders out loud. "Personally, I'm fine, but some of you seem exhausted or wounded. We have been at it non-stop since the attack begun... Perhaps we should rest up a bit first? Is that an option?"
"I napped!" beams Mizzug. "Wes good me tinks."
"Loth is stating the truth, but whatever is down there is not going to wait. I have my shield and Dol his mail. Let Aventail take the lead the goblin weapons will break on their hide" the druids words hide his misgivings.
Aventail's heads cants slightly as Loth speaks. She pauses while Raz speaks.
"Forgive my non-biological brashness. You are correct Loth, in that fatigue leads to error. In this instance, I am, as Raz-Kiv suggests, unharmed, and unwavering. My desire is to immediately and efficaciously remove a threat to others in the town who are as many are, tired, hurt, and vulnerable."
Sheriff Hemlock answers the questions succinctly as they come his way.
@Aventail: Stancy didn't look at the tomb's name.
@Mizzug: Goblins don't use tombs.
@Bumbo: We don't know what kind of threat it is.
Unless there are further objections or whatnot, the group moves over towards a side door of the cathedral near the back which lets out onto a small graveyard. Near the wall that runs around it, across the yard from the church, a small tomb sits with its door slightly ajar. Balor Hemlock stays in the door way, watching you all as you cross the grass. Anyone who looks back can see him periodically talking to guardsmen that run up and away, likely taking reports and organizing things, and once to Father Zantus as the priest tries to ascertain what is happening.
Stancy speaks up for the first time as you are walking, This is where they bury the faithful in service to the church. It's old, used to be the town graveyard. But the town kind of grew over and around it and there wasn't enough space anymore. So the moved most of the bodies some time back, before I was born. Now it's just for church folk.
And in a few moments only, you front the tomb. The heavy stone door has obviously not been properly closed, but doesn't stand open enough to see inside. It measures roughly a 10 foot square.
The lintel reads: Ezakien Tobyn
What would you like to do?
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Noting the guard's nervousness, Dol attempts to ease her tension. "Right. Thank you, Guardswoman Stancy. I imagine that we will find a couple of goblins who chose to hide out here when the battle turned against them.
Keep an eye out for anything that we flush out and we will solve this mystery quickly."
Razkiv reaches down for a rock he whispers to it reminding it of the sun beating down with it, filling it with heat. The stone begins to softly glow.
"The dark is no barrier to a dwarf, if someone needs some light this should help." He holds the stone out.
"Cudd be nuttin innit too. Should ya real move bodies after ya bury 'em?"
Drawing her large warhammer, she smiles. "Cudd be a fun fight too."
Loth smirks. "Real go-getters, all of you. Very well, let's get going."
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Loth inspects the lintel briefly.
"Wait a second... I've heard of this man. Ezakien Tobyn was Father Zantus' predecessor. He died in the church fire a few years back, along with his adoptive daughter. It could be a coincidence, but that's an awfully appropriate tomb to plunder when you assault a town the day they open their new church."
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Dol frowns at the knowledge of the tomb's occupants. "That does seem to be more than a coincidence. What could someone have been looking for?"
Turning back to Stancy, he asks, "Is there anything you recall about Father Tobyn or his daughter from the time of the fire? Any rumors that would have caused someone to search for something in this tomb?"
Aventail listens as she inspects the site.
She points her glaive-guisarme toward the gap in the door, ready to pull/push it open once Stancey replies.
Guard Stancy nervously watches you all go about your business, doing as PC's do, and almost seems startled when you speak to her. Uummmmmmm...........I can't think of anything. I was just a kid at the time, you understand, barely 14 years old. I mostly remember him as a kind old man and her as a joyful kid. It was a real tragedy what happened. More than them died, but everyone in town felt it.
@Aventail: Yes. Unless specified, doors swing both ways.
@Everyone: Aventail is obviously ready to open the door. What is everyone else going to do? Treat it like a surprise round where you get one action or prepared action. Also, with prepared actions, be specific on the trigger.
Bumbo loads his sling and stands ready....though near the back of the group, to charge in. The gnome gulps down his fear as he looks up, way up in some cases, at his stalwart new friends. Good to have strong friends, I guess...never really thought about it. He looks at Toot with the thought, and shrugs to himself.
Toot nearly paws at the door, ready to charge through and assault anything within - hopefully it's a bad guy.
Raz stands next to Bumbo, ready to move in-front of the gnome if something comes rushing out.
Loth will draw his bow, ready to shoot if anything comes rushes out of the doorway from inside.
Of course, add -4 to the roll if the shot is into melee.
So here is what happens:
Aventail carefully reaches out with her pole arm, hooking it around the edge of the door and pulling. The door doesn't move at first, but then slowly begins to slide across the grass with a soft scraping sound. As the light from the magicked stone hits the room, you all are able to see two figures begin moving towards you. Shambling into the light, two humanoid skeletons emerge from the tomb, wielding scimitars and raising them to strike.
Stancy lets out a cry of fear as they emerge from the darkness, What in the name of Erastil!?
Dol quickly brings around his hammer, smashing one to bits in a single swing.
Raz quickly moves to block Bumbo from their attacks.
Loth fires an arrow, striking one of them square in the skull, but bouncing off harmlessly.
And Toot quickly finishes off another one with a quick form his overdeveloped jaw.
It is over in a manner of seconds, Stancy stands there with her sword only half drawn, her eyes wide as they dart about the area. No more figures emerge from the shadowed interior of the tomb.
What will you do now?
Aventail nods, prodding a jawbone aside with her foot. "Might I have the stone Raz-Kiv?" she asks. Glaive-guisarme gripped and stone held forward, she moves inside.
Handing his friend the stone Raz spits, "Undead, I am glad we pushed on. this can not be allowed"
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Dol chuckles, trying to reassure Stancy. "Certainly not Erastil's doing, unless there is some Sandpoint custom that I am not aware about guarding the tombs of high priests.
Go ahead and let the sheriff know what we found and that we are investigating further."
Whether she leaves or not, Dol turns to the party and says more quietly. "Raising the dead is not typical goblin behavior. We have not heard of another party to this attack, have we?"
Kneeling down, Dol examines the skeletons more closely.
Toot appears disappointed that the creature dies so easily, but he satisfies himself with chewing on one of the bones as he idly sniff about the area.
Bumbo looks past Dol at the bodies, his sling still held high in case the things reanimate...again.
*YAWN*
"Oh...uh...g'job. TeHE" chuckles Mizzug as the bones clatter to the ground.
Moving inside with Aventail, she pulls her warhammer free. "Tink we's gud no-ow?"
@Dol: The skeleton's wore no clothing and carried scimitars, you haven't seen to many of these around Sandpoint. So it seems unlikely... and as you lean down to examine the remains further to try and garner any information you can, the bones fade away and disappear. Obviously something more than just necromancy is at play here.
@Dol 2: Stancy seems eager to run back to the sheriff. With an overly loud exclamation of YEAH! SURE!, she turns on her heel and rushes back across the graveyard.
@Aventail: As you enter the shadowed tomb, it lights up with the luminescence you carry with you. It is clear that this tomb was lovingly made, with many small carvings adorning the interior, painstakingly carved across almost every surface. Two sarcophagus lie on either side, flanking you as you move into the interior. One has the name Nualia Tobyn above it. It appears undisturbed. Across from it is* the resting place of Ezakien Tobyn. The lid is still lying on its side, and the sarcophagus lies empty. In the back, crumpled up on the floor, is a pile of clothe. It shimmers with a purple refraction in the light of the magic stone in your hand.
.
.
.
*(read: was)
"Goblins can summon skeletons now? What did Sandpoint do to deserve this mess?"
The halfling follows behind Aventail, bow at the ready.
Toot snorts loudly at the term, as if in disdain. A finger-waggler, jes' like ya' Bumbo! You'll be able to un-magic his magics, right?
Bumbo winces. Um, that's not exactly how it works, I...
Toot wasn't listening. Bah, either way...be more fun to hit than these boney things I'm sure. Lead on, metal thing! The pig stands by Aventail's side, ready to wage war on whatever they find.
Bumbo stays close to Loth, handily behind Dol. I can't imagine, Loth...these good people, to be under such duress. We gotta' do what we can!
Aventail's articulated face plate rarranges into a smirk at Bumbo's designation of her, then gingerly lifts the porphyric cloth with her glaive-guisarme.
"This opened sarcophagus: empty. The other, I am not sure of. I assume the priest was Ezakien and his casket is the empty one. Nualia's lies yet undisturbed. I suggest we leave it thus..."
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Looking around from the outside, Dol responds to Aventail.
"Normally, I would agree with you. However, we need to make sure nothing is hiding in here and the casket is an obvious hiding place. We should also look around for secret doors."
If there is room for him to get in side, Dol will start tapping on the walls and floor, listening for hollow sounds indicating hidden areas.
@Dol: There is, without a doubt, zero room remaining in this tomb. Between Aventail, Toot, 2 sarcophagus, and maybe Loth, this 10×10 room is beyond cramped. You search around the outside and do not detect any of the signs of any secret doors or the like
"I agree with Dol. Let's not open her casket more than is necessary to peek in and confirm there's no goblins inside, though. If we stay as respectful as possible, I'm sure Nualia's spirit will understand it's all for protecting her home."
Aventail looks unsure and not keen to open the sarcophagus.
Bumbo winces and stands back from the grim work. Toot is not very useful without proper thumbs and thus wanders out of the tomb to allow the two-legs room to do their work.
@Aventail: As you lift up the cloak, you notice the detail that it is clean. Lying on a dirt floor, but the robe is clean. Do with that info as you please.
Though no one seems pleased by it, the decision to open the sarcophagus seems to have merit. Slowly and reluctantly, some of you begin to push the heavy lid to the side. What greats your eyes is a body, or what is left of one. Several years in the tomb mixed with being consumed by fire left this corpse withered, blackened, and unrecognizable. (If anyone asks how they knew it was Nualia, Sheriff Hemlock will tell you that hit was found in her room in the church.)
If anyone decides to poke around the interior of the stone coffin, they find nothing else of note. And with a grinding sound, the lid re-centers back over the resting body.
By this time, Sheriff Hemlock has arrived to the tomb, Guard Stancy is back by the door into the cathedral where he was. He says nothing as he begins to take in the scene.
"Bumbo, is that cloak or robe magical?"
Glancing in from the doorway, Mizzug inquires "An-ee big'uns ta fight?"
Seeing nothing large enough to peak her interest, she frowns. "Why'd yas warsh da cloak? Look nice an clean...but not what wes 'ere for."
Bumbo looks over his shoulders, as if expecting another Bumbo to come forth to answer the odd question. Then, he starts. Oh, right! I can do that...lemme see here. He twists his face as if trying hard to remember something, then spit in his hand and hurls the wad at the cloak.
"Mizzug, the odd customs of this place mean that you can only sleep in designated places. Would you please come with me? I have one of these designated sleeping zones, but I would feel more comfortable with someone there with me."
"So we have goblin footprints, some skeletons, but nothing else... Odd."
Loth thinks for a bit, trying to make sense of this.
"So judging by the tracks, goblins were here. They're not here anymore, so they left. They went in, summoned skeletons and left, even closing the door behind them. Is it just me or does that not really sound like a goblin-thing to do?"
"I agree with Loth, I think if the Greenskins had Skeletons then they would have used them in a more direct way."
"Aye. Works fer me Razkiv." nods Mizzug.
"Trap door? Me tinks e-nuff walken bout in there. If it were trapped, trap woulda gone off."