The more martial of the party make quick work of the arachnid, before Daxur could even think to bring for this magical might!
"Excellent work! " he declares.
He moves forward to examine the spider's remains...
"Indeed it was a well excuted fight" - Reknar grunts, then moves to search the area.
Yes that went well. We had the Dawnflowers blessing there, clearly. Thank you my goddess!
Amunet-Ra kisses her holy symbol and puts it back to her bandoleer.
Shall we move on?
When everyone is ready she would take the lead progressing through the cave.
Amunet and Reknar begin searching through the spider's nest while Charyx looks around for tracks, Kromnir scouts ahead with Staryth.
Amunet and Reknar find a small corpse wrapped in webbing. The corpse is a desiccated kobold, on the corpse is a small sword (shortsword) with a black onyx in the pommel. Discarded to the side is a vial with a viscous red liquid, its easily identified as a minor potion of healing
Kromnir scouts ahead a little bit and spots the next area
After the web-infested cave, the passageway leading deeper underneath the streets of Otari appears to be mostly natural, but someone, or something, has worked to open the cavern and level out the floor, making the passage easily traveled. A crude barricade made from old wooden planks and part of a barrel blocks the entrance to a side tunnel, while the main passage continues off into the gloom.
Kromnir pulls out his scythe and works to cut through the webbing in an effort to retrieve his javelin. "Bah! I hate spider webs! Especially when they get in me beard and on me face! It's like you can never get the lot of it! Bah!" the dwarf grumbles, yet, refusing to desist in reacquiring his weapon.
Once that's finally been settled, "Okay, I'm good now," he declares as he resheathes his scythe. He then aids the others in searching the area while at the same time working to pull webbing off of his face. "Bah!" he grumbles under his breath.
And when that is finished, he resumes scouting, remaining wary of anything coming from any direction.
Taking a quick gander at the sword, "That's a nice sword ye've found there. Real nice. If your intent is to sell it, could easily get ya four or five gold. Nice."
"Well, that was humiliating." the elf sighs "Web in my hair... and I think a bit in my mouth, tastes terrible." then a smile, "On the plus side, I've made some aquantices who clearly know how to exterminate."
"VERY nice sword," Admiring and agreeing with the dwarf "Seems almost a shame to sell it. Anyone fancy the short sword in a fight here?"
There's a decision to be made, investigate what's behind the barricade, or continue on the path.
Charyx finds several tracks he identifies as kobold. They lead down the tunnel.
I say we investigate what is behind this barricade. It looks suspicious, something bad is hiding there, i can feel it.
As Amunet nears the barricade she hears some faint clattering from somewhere far beyond it.
To remove the barricade, you could smash it fairly easily or you could try and take it apart piece by piece.
As Kromnir falls in behind the healer, he looks curiously upon the barricade. "Should we smash it? I'm for smashin' it. I can tell ya it's a poorly constructed barricade simply by how poorly constructed it is." He looks to the others and shrugs. "Just sayin'. A blind dwarf could build one better'n that."
"I think I remember hearing something about kobolds in Otari a few years back" - Reknar comments - "Something about this whole area actually having been occupied by a whole tribe of them even before Otari was built"
"VERY nice sword," Admiring and agreeing with the dwarf "Seems almost a shame to sell it. Anyone fancy the short sword in a fight here?"
"I used to have an old army instructor who liked a quote - 'the secret is not the blade, but the hand which wields it' - or something like that" - he chuckled - "Not sure I completely agree, but even if it is so, better to wield a good blade than a poor one"
As Kromnir falls in behind the healer, he looks curiously upon the barricade. "Should we smash it? I'm for smashin' it. I can tell ya it's a poorly constructed barricade simply by how poorly constructed it is." He looks to the others and shrugs. "Just sayin'. A blind dwarf could build one better'n that."
"I am sure they could Deepcairn, and I am fine with smashing it" - Reknar shrugs - "Though if there is anyone on the other side... Parley options might fly out the door right off the bat"
Daxur recognizes that beyond the palisade is worked stone, it's not expertly worked, but something created that part of the cavern. It isn't natural.
Daxur casts his expert gaze on the worked stone beyond the barrier, "Not natural...that's worked stone." he observes, nodding at Reknar's statement, "Indeed....though the question come to mind, is the barrier there to keep us out or to keep something else ....in?"
Well let's find out. When we are to clean out this place, better be thourough. It would be awkward when some monsters come out here and eat everyone some days or weeks after we finish this.
She nods to Kromnir.
Go aheas and smash it! The fun is all yours.
Then she looks to Reknar:
I didn't know kobolds used to live here before. How long ago is that? You think some are still here? They could cause quite some trouble i imagine. Maybe this is the beginning of a kobold invasion, coming on force to retake the land?
Looking to Reknar and then Daxur in thought, he next turns his attention to Amunet-Ra as she speaks. Grinning, "Now you're talkin'." And with that, he removes his polearm and proceeds to smashing. Once that is taken care of, "I'm thinkin' there's not to many willin' ta talk with a barrier around," he says to Reknar. Then turning to the goblin, "And I'm bankin' on its use for 'keepin' us out' more so than keepin' anythin' in. But either way, we're about ta find out, hm? Should be fun," he says with a wink.
Kromnir proceeds in smashing the barricade into splinters, it doesn't take long, but it's noisy.
Then the party heads down that way, the stone has been chiseled out to form a passage Charyx doesn't think anything has passed this way in a while.
The chiseled passage opens into a room....
Beyond the barricade, an old cavern corridor winds down into the earth, ending in an ancient burial vault lit by a strange torch with a blue flame. Alcoves line the walls, each one containing a rotten wooden coffin, while the center of the room has a raised platform holding a stone sarcophagus.
Round 1
Staryth
Charyx
Reknar
Zombie
Kromnir
Amunet
Daxur
Skeletons
Round 1
Amunet-Ra pauses for a moment, seemingly stunned, letting everything sink in, to assess her knowledge about what she sees.
(Round One)
"I cannot see anything - this place is getting crowded" - Reknar grumbles, then catches a glimpse of the unnatural creatures - "Ok... now I see them... What are those?"
"I guess you were right in forgetting about parley Kromnir - let them have it!" - he adds, raising his shield and moving forward.
----------
Noticing several deep within the cave, "Oh blast. I'm seein' at least three of 'em. But as big as this place is, I'm willin' ta bet there's more; especially around that corner. There's ALWAYS somethin' around the corner. And don't move all the way in, Reknar! Let them come ta us, lad. We bottleneck 'em right here at this entrance. No since in takin' the whole lot of 'em on at once. Unless, of course, they got magic and decide ta blow us up. Then that would be bad. But if not and we go in there, they'll surround us and simply beat us ta death. We cannot allow ourselves ta be surrounded," the dwarf warns. He then steps out and catches sight of one just around the corner, strikes at it, and then moves back to his original spot. "Hit and run, lot, hit and run."
From a safe distance, Daxur offers the following, "Ah, the animated dead! The fleshy one is colloquially known as a 'Zombie'. I suggest the use of edged, slashing weapons to dispose of that one. The others, surprisingly enough, are referred to as skeletons, the use of blunt weapons is recommended!"
His lesson on the proper use of weaponry against the walking dead finished, Daxur cranes his neck to see what's going on.
Nodding, he draws his dagger, holds it in he palm wiggles his fingers over it , then whispers to it, "Go Get it!"
The dagger flies through the air towards the Zombie!
Kromnir listens in on the goblin's information. "Bludgeoning?" he asks himself, looking at the end of his weapon. Thinking about it a moment, he simply shrugs. "Ah well, just goin' ta have ta hit 'em harder I guess," he concludes.
Round 1
Staryth sneaks around stealthily.
Charyx strides 25', then he hunts the zombie and lets loose with an arrow
Reknar moves up, raises his shield and inspires his allies.
Zombie moans and struggles forward slowly. It approaches Charyx and swings a meaty rotting fist at him Charyx is struck for and the zombie has grabbed him
Kromnir
Amunet
Daxur
Skeletons
Eyes going wide as the undead grabs his fellow companion, "Blast! Kill that thing! Kill it! It's got Charyx!" The dwarf then attempts to do exactly that.
Amunet-Ra gasps.
Oh no, the undead! We have to cleanse this place!
She strides forward into the room and strikes at the zombie.
Then she raises her shield.
Round 1
Staryth sneaks around stealthily.
Charyx strides 25', then he hunts the zombie and lets loose with an arrow which goes wide
Reknar moves up, raises his shield and inspires his allies.
Zombie moans and struggles forward slowly. It approaches Charyx and swings a meaty rotting fist at him. Charyx is struck painfully and the zombie has grabbed him.
Kromnir steps forward and hacks at the zombie, the glaive carves huge gashes into the creature.
Amunet strides into the room and hacks at the zombie, her scimitar slices the rotting creature easily.
Daxur sends his dagger at the zombie and it sticks into it with a wet splat.
Skeletons
1 strides and strikes at Amunet but she artfully protects herself
2 strides and strikes at Amunet but she artfully protects herself
3 clambers over the sarcophagus and strikes at Amunet hitting but Amunet's shield catches the blow.
4 strides and strikes at Amunet and even though she is flatfooted she defends herself well.
5 strides and strikes at Amunet and even though she is flatfooted she defends herself well.
Round 2
Staryth
Charyx
Reknar
Zombie
Kromnir
Amunet
Daxur
Skeletons
"Amunet wait! Defend in the chokehold..." - Reknar's words die out in his throat as his companion rushes into the room - "Damn it!" - he curses with a growl, and moves forward to attack the zombie.
----------
Shaking his head at the healer's actions, "What is she doin'?! She's goin' ta get herself killed!" the dwarf swears under his breath, not wasting a moment attacking the zombie.
Round 2
Staryth lashes out with his rapier at the zombie and hits Staryth stabs the zombie through the brain with an expert lunge and it topples over. He then swiftly moves out of the way to flank with Amunet and slashes at a skeleton hitting for and although it's harder to do, he dispatches a skeletal enemy.
Charyx withdraws from the fight, wounded shoulder throbbing.
Reknar moves up and staves in a skeletal skull. He has an easier time of it with his club like weapon.
Kromnir moves up and slashes at one of the remaining skeletons, he misses with his first strike, but then lands a blow that gets tangled in some rib bones.
Amunet
Daxur
Skeletons
Amunet-Ra conjures the holy power of Sarenrae, hlding up her holy symbol and a wave of divine energy washes through the room.
Amunet-Ra just had a vision of blasting away all the skeletons with divine energy, but then decides to attack them, since she would need to prepare for that.
And just to be sure she raises her shield again.
Daxur's dagger returns to his hand with a satisfying slap sound, the goblin glances at it, happy that his prowess was yet again displayed.
Seeing the rash Amunet-Ra beset, Daxur extends his other hand and while uttering a now familiar set of syllables, causes an arc of electricity to jump towards the nearest skeleton. There it limes it's decrepit bones before jumping to the other close by skeleton.
Round 2
Staryth lashes out with his rapier at the zombie and hits. Staryth stabs the zombie through the brain with an expert lunge and it topples over. He then swiftly moves out of the way to flank with Amunet and slashes at a skeleton hitting, and although it's harder to do, he dispatches a skeletal enemy.
Charyx withdraws from the fight, wounded shoulder throbbing.
Reknar moves up and staves in a skeletal skull. He has an easier time of it with his club like weapon.
Kromnir moves up and slashes at one of the remaining skeletons, he misses with his first strike, but then lands a blow that gets tangled in some rib bones.
Amunet lays about her with her shield, and manages to smash the skeleton that Kromnir struck, the collapses into brittle bones.
Daxur snaps his finger and a lound ZZZZZAAAP happens +7 one of the skeletons crumbles and the other is merely scorched a little.
Skeletons
The one remaining skeleton attacks Reknar but the bard holds them off with his shield.
Round 3
Staryth
Charyx
Reknar
Kromnir
Amunet
Daxur
Skeletons
Moving up and surrounding the skeleton, Amunet-Ra brings her shield to work again.
Praise Sarenrae for this victory of light over darkness!
She takes a composed moment to thank her goddess.
Now let's see what we have here. Is everyone allright? Daxus i believe you were hurt?
Kromnir lets out a relieved sigh as he moves into the cave and takes a moment to look upon the scene. "Nice work, lot." Then turning to Amunet-Ra, "All good here, lass." The dwarf then takes a moment to examine the coffins, starting off with the one located in the middle.
Kromnir takes some time to search the room, the main thing is the strange blue fire torch. The torch emits no heat, but otherwise functions exactly like a normal torch, making it very handy.
One of the skeletons was wielding a gold inlaid shield with a roaring lion on the face. The shield is probably worth several gold marks due to it's well made artistry.
"Oddly less terrifying than the spider"
Taking the torch(if possible), "Hm. You've got ta see this torch, lot." He places his other hand practically right upon the blue flame and shows no expression of pain. "It's not hot. Interestin'." He examines it for a moment longer before turning to the others. "Any of you want a constantly burnin' torch? I don't really have a problem with the dark, so, no real need for a torch; but I'll keep it if none of you want it. It's just to blasted fascinating. Ya know, ya just can't help but stare at it," he says as he stares at it almost mindlessly.
Amunet-Ra will tend to Charyx wounds...
The shield looks very nice, let's bring it. The torch is good as well. The more light the better. I have my own, so maybe one of you should carry it.
Reknar nods in appreciation as they crush the last skeleton - "Amunet, you risked a bit too much there. Just saying..."
Then he takes a few moments to look the shield over.
Reknar knows that a roaring lion is a common motif among Taldan nobles and adventurers.
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Amunet-Ra looks at Reknar and shrugs.
This is the way.
Sarenites don't negotiate with undead, they are anathema to Sarenrae, so i act accordingly. If we hadn't cut them down so fast i would have blasted them with holy energy from Sarenrae. That would surely have finished them off, back to their graves and ended their unnatural existance. Also they couldn't even touch me.
Staryth inclines his head "Well, we need all the help we can get" He looks up in a skyward direction "So thank you, Sarenrae for sending us this quite fierce fellow." he looks at the others "tend to favor Desna myself, but it always helps to keep your contacts open." Despite his rambling, he seems sincerely grateful
Kromnir can only shake his head at the overconfidence of the healer. "This time, lass. They couldn't touch you this time. Ya know what they say, play with fire long enough you're eventually goin' ta get burned. Reknar's got a point, ya could've gotten yerself killed and then where would ya be? But we're only tellin' ya this because we care, lass," he says with a wry grin, giving a wink.
His eyes then suddenly go wide as a revelation hits him. He looks back at the torch, "Wait a minute! I remember that at some point someone was tellin' me about these kind of torches. I didn't believe it of course but here we are! What are the odds? I think it's called a 'something'-burning torch. Always? Constant? Continuous? Endless? No, no, none of those. Ummmm, never? Ever? Wait... is it 'ever'? Ya know, I think it is! EVERburning torch! Yep! That's got ta be it. Sounds better than the rest of 'em for sure. Boy that would've bugged me for days if I hadn't figured that out. Pretty clever if you ask me ta come up with somethin' like this. Place it in yer home and you'll always have a light ta read by," he nods matter of factly. "Nice."
Amunet-Ra looks at Reknar and shrugs.
This is the way.