Willard Scrub is somewhat of a fixture around Rostler's Coffer, though he's more likely to be found hunting the woodlands outside the city for tasty mushrooms than taking up room at the local pub. Some folk say that his pet pig, Mr. Beans, has an almost magical nose for truffles.
Willard is happy to trade some work on a farm for food or shelter when times are lean, and his "home," if he could be said to have one, is a small rented room that holds few possessions. Willard doesn't like to be tied down with material possessions or major responsibilities in case he feels like taking to the woods for a good month-long wander.
Vyr Embar was born under a lucky star. With the gifts of aasimar blood, he was assured throughout his childhood that he was destined for greatness. But circumstances always seemed to conspire against him. His father was died when Vyr was young and a plague swept through Vellumis. While Vyr also fell ill, but recovered. After this loss, his mother, loving and caring though she was, was not very good at any job and was constantly bouncing around Lastwall: scullery maid, tavern kitchen assistant, laundry washer. Money was tight and food scarce. But he’d make something of himself, he was told and his natural charm did mitigate what could have been an even more miserable childhood.
Once he turned 18, his bad luck seemed to multiply, and with each ill turn of fate, his own outlook on life soured.
He seemed to be lucky enough to find love, only to have his beloved, Beatrice, drown in a river.
He was apprenticed to a blacksmith, only to have the blacksmith’s house and workshop burn to the ground, Vyr the only survivor, as he had been sent to gather a load of iron ingots from a dealer.
From there, he started to rub elbows more and more with Vigil’s less savory elements. Only his mother’s intervention saved him, after a few rough scrapes with both sides of the law. She called in one favor or another, and was able to get Vyr a place in Lastwall’s infantry. She believed it would give him the discipline he needed, and since he was a hero at heart, destined for great things, it was a natural place to start, she said. Vyr thought this was a terrible idea, and planned to simply run away, but then an out of control ox cart killed his mother, and he felt he had to fulfill her last wish for him. And where does his unit get sent on patrol? The taint-end of Lastwall, Roslar’s Coffer.
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Annalise’s house was already having troubles before the Whispering Tyrant began to stir. The Wilblunds presided over a moderately sized area of land in Ustalav on the border with Lastwall. Land rich and cash poor, rumors of them cavorting with vampires and other unsavory creatures kept opportunities to improve their fortune few and far between. With the rise of the Whispering Tyrant, the land has become completely blighted and most of the citizens have left.
With Annalise’s only two prospects being to marry well or seek her fortune, she chose the later. Sheltered and haughty has made it this far in large part thanks to luck. In most things she still means well and mostly just wants to be free of the responsibilities and expectations of her family. She is passing through Rostler’s Coffer, unsure of where to go next.
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You awaken flat on your back, slightly disoriented in the way that you sometimes do after a deep sleep. But when you open your eyes you see...
If you have darkvision:
If you do not:
The air is cool and smells of earth. Your arms are at your side. It's difficult to move them because you are enclosed in some kind of container. A box maybe? It's just big enough to let you bring your hands up in front of your chest.
There is no sound but for your own breathing.
What they hell has happened to me now?! This better not be a prank from those pricks in in the other squad. Vyr will put his hands on the "roof" and push.
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It's very heavy. Pushing against the roof as hard as you can causes it to lift and subside.
You hear the scrape and crash of stone resulting from your efforts, and more echoing around you.
If you have darkvision:
In the alcoves above each sarcophagus is a relief carving and a small epitaph.
If you do not:
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Jonas pulls his ioun torch out of his pack. It illuminates a room that's roughly 10' x 30'. Six sarcophagi are arrayed against one of the walls, the heads nestled into an alcove. Four humanoids in total are sitting upright in such coffins clearly having just pushed their lids off.
In the alcoves above each sarcophagus is a relief carving and a small epitaph.
"Who in the nine hells are you?!" Vyr takes in the other three in the room, and starts looking for an exit.
Vyr himself is dressed in the gear of a soldier of Lastwall. Standard scale mail, shortbow, and longsword, although those with keen eyes will note his scabbard is empty. Vyr has black hair, purple eyes, and an athletic, if not nimble looking, build.
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Annalise will struggle against the lid for a few seconds, and, with a shout, will finally get it open. Looking around, she will gingerly step out of the sarcophagus and take a moment to compose herself. She turns to the person closest to her, folding her arms
"I demand to know where we are and what is going on!"
"Well when I figure it out, I'll tell you, princess!"
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"From the looks of it, I think we are all asking that same question. But I'm guessing one or more of you got yourselves wrapped up in something, and I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time"
Red's internal filter isn't the greatest.
If there is an easily discoverable exit, Red will begin looking at the surrounding iconography and such to see if there is anything to learn. If no exit is obvious, he will start taking a closer look at the sarcophagi (without touching them yet) and the like to see if there are any secret doors.
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The relief carvings are portraits. The picture over the sarcophagus that you each emerged from bears an uncanny resemblance to the person who was in it. There is no name plate.
The writing beneath each picture reads: Red Shrikes–Noble Companions in the War against Evil. Rest Well, My Friends
DC 15 Knowledge Religion or History
There is a door at one end of the long room.
With the initial adrenaline rush of waking up in a tomb wearing off, Vyr begins to gather his wits and manners a bit more.
"Someone must be pulling a prank on us, but what's our connection? Let's take a second to put the pieces together. My name's Vyr. My company was passing through Roslar's Coffer on patrol. Must have been drugged, as last thing I remember was taking a whetstone out of my pack to sharpen my sword . . ." At this he reaches for the pommel, but finds the scabbard empty.
"Bastards took my sword, or nabbed me and didn't do me the courtesy of giving it back." You can see he is getting visibly upset again, and he starts flexing his right hand . . . open . . . closed . . . open . . . closed.
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"Well this is the first time I've been back to Roslar's Coffer in nearly 10 years. I'm not part of a company, or anything for that matter, so I'm not sure what our connection could be. Are any of you followers of Irori as I am? Oh, and if we're going to get out of here together, my name is Jonas, but you can call me Red. Everyone else does."
Red is wearing a standard monk's outfit
Willard is startled awake.
What's that noise?
He casts dancing lights and is concerned at being trapped.
Pushing against the lid, he sits up, climbs out of the box, and takes in the other members of the group.
"Who are you folks? And why did you bring me to the Red Shrikes' crypt?"
Willard's overalls are stained with dirt at the knees.
He gives a sharp whistle, which reverberates in the tight confines of the room, then cocks his head as he waits. When nothing develops, he mutters,
"Hmm. No Mr. Beans?"
"This feels like the set-up to a bad joke. A princess, a farmer, a priest and a soldier walk into a tomb . . ."
"Ha! I've heard that one, but I wouldn't repeat the punchline with a lady present. Willard Scrub's the name."
He leans idly against the edge of the sarcophagus. "Sounds like you folks are from off a ways. I can't say this is much of an introduction to our fair village. Not usually much uncanny nonsense in Rostler's Coffer."
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"I appreciate your discretion, my esteemed man of the earth" Annalise says, totally sincerely
"I am Annalise Estasia Wilblund of Ustalav. And I am no Princess, though you may address me as Lady. The last thing I remember is going to sleep in the incredibly humble local tavern."
She looks each of her companions up and down
"None of you have the look of a crusader..." Annalise muses
She then begins to look more at her surroundings
"Have we been taken out of the Country?"
"Red Shrikes were Rostler's squad back in the bad old days of the crusades. Town fixed up a nice crypt for them." Willard gestures around himself.
"They all managed to die far away from here, which seems inconsiderate on their parts. Crypt has always been empty."
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"Um, it sounds like something is moving and clicking against this door on the other side."
Looking for another way out and not seeing one, Red goes on,
"While I hope it's some sort of caretaker doing their rounds, our surroundings are making me worry that's not the case. I'm willing to be the one to open the door, but I think we should be ready for something less savory."
Red waits for either responses or signs that they are ready.
"One moment, let's make sure no one else is in these other two sarcophagi." Vyr will push open the tops enough on the other two to make sure no one is inside, and to check for anything else inside them.
If there is nothing, and nothing else of interest in the room, Vyr is ready to follow Red out the door.
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When you lift the first sarcophagus, a slight hiss and a wisp of smoke or dust escapes the box. The smell of old parchment and a home-cooked meal escapes and quickly dissipates.
The second one is much the same, but you smell something earthy, like livestock.
When you open the door, you see a small room lined with a few shelves. A crate covered in ancient canvas sits on the floor. A skeleton stands in the room. Its vacant eyes stare into nothing, yet you detect a malign intent.
Red
Willard
Skeleton
Analise
Vyr
"Great jumpin' Jalmeray! You're right, Red. We've got boogedies."
Willard flicks a gob of acid at the creature, though there is some cover.
for
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Red connects with a clean strike, which shatters the skeleton's skull. Bones go tumbling to the floor. Amid the clatter, a tiny creature, which looks something like a fish made of bones and covered in glowing red eyes slithers out of the bones and into Red's square.
It bites Red.
That's 2 damage plus 2 acid damage.
Red -4
Willard
Skeletal fish?
Analise
Vyr
”Of course I would end up in a tomb with skeletal abominations without a weapon.”
As he says this, Vyr’s hand continues to flex, and becomes sheathed in a purple substance.
”What in the Nine Hells?!”
He moves between the creature and Annelise.
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Ostovites are parasitic creatures which take over the skeletons of larger creatures for a sense of self-worth. Their only special ability is called Bone Chariot which lets them take over the skeleton of a creature of 2 HD or less. However, multiple ostovites can combine to control a larger skeleton.
They're immune to cold, no other resistances and no DR.
It takes full damage.
Red -4
Willard
Ostovite -9 (dazed)
Analise
Vyr
"An infestation, and not just of wayward visitors to town. They've really let this place go!"
Willard scratches his beard. "Best we move on out of here. We should keep our eyes peeled on the way out. If there's walking skeletons about, who knows what critters or geegaws are lurking around here."