Kayle nods and gives Owens the command. "Hopefully whoever made these is not too far then." he says to himself in a soft voice. He follows shortly behind the dog possibly alongside Nicolette if she is also following closely. He is watching the tracks so that even if his faithful companion slips up he can steer the pooch back on course.
As they progress he is also keeping an eye out, looking for noteworthy clues or the threat of danger. Such as large snakes.
Owens keeps his head down as he follows the tracks, nose close to the ground and head rarely lifting from the earth as he uses his best tools to track this interesting find. His tail wags little, only swaying gently from side to side when he find a particular scent. He does not stride, but plods along so he doesn't outpace his sniffer.
The party can hear the dog actively bringing air through his nose, snorting and snuffing as needed.
Calaithes follows Owens and his brother. He watches for any missed tracks and points them out as they go along.
"And let us hope that what did this to him doesn't try the same with us..." she comments in near silence as she walks.
With a sense of deep sadness, she hints to Bohrs, "Perhaps we should keep out songs to ourselves for the moment, Bohrs..."
"Yes, yes, of course," Bohrs replies with a nod. "I'll be struggling to be quiet by simply walking, as it is!"
Between Owens' sharp nose and Bohrs' and Calaithes' keen eyes, the group sets off from the lake and travels around the lakeshore east. After about half a mile, they find the telltale remnants of an old campsite. There are ashes from an old campfire, a few pits on the outskirts for waste, and a few sets of small animal bones around. It looks like there were at least half a dozen people who were staying here, maybe more. They didn't leave much behind when they left. Judging by the state of things, you'd estimate that it's been around 2-4 months since this campsite was used.
There is no cabin, nor snake, nor sign of any god's wrath or favor in this region. Just a long-dead, unburied body and a long-abandoned campsite.
---
The trail leads ever deeper into the Fangwood, through a twisting maze of old, gnarled trees, thorn-covered bushes, uneven roots, and treacherous ravines. After about three hours, you come to the top of a small rise, with a broad valley spreading out before you. The other side of the valley looks for all the world like a writhing serpent: so this must be Serpent Gorge! You're getting close to your destination! You just have to get down this hill.
A cold rain starts to fall as you survey the valley containing the crypt. It looks like the treacherous hill is about to become even slicker...
Nicolette is silent most of the way, silent when they get there searching through things, and all they get out of her is a shrug when they depart. It communicates what they are all likely thinking--a waste of time. He could have been anyone. With no sign or anything to speak to who he was, they just move on.
She returns to the path and eventually follows deeper into the Fangwood. As they emerge on the valley, she will point outward to the others as they also crest the hill.
"Serpent's Gorge."
Looking down, she tries to discern the best way down this hill. When the rain starts to fall, she shakes her head and pulls out her poncho from her pack. Sliding it on, she protects herself from the rain. Keeping her eyes clear of the wetness will allow her to know better where to step, and thus those who come after her. She also takes a moment to project a path downward as best as she can before starting. Once she starts going, she moves carefully downward.
Nicolette's excellent wilderness training helps her to navigate the hill very effectively. Taking her time and leading the way, it takes about an hour to descend.
"I wonder what business so many people would have out here?" Kayle wonders aloud. As they poke through the camp he looks for something. He wasn't sure exactly what, but he had a feeling he might find a keepsake or at least a decent chew toy for Owens. If nothing else he deserved it for being such a dutiful tracker.
When they reached the gorge his hair was already wet about his brow. His eyes only saved from being obscured thanks to the braid near his temple. Perhaps it was a choice of function rather than fashion.
Rather than follow Nicolette down and crowd the way Kayle urged Owens on to find his own way down. While the dog paced about he took off his pack and eased it to the ground. He then removed his armor and tied it to his pack. The bulky hide did him no favors. He would use it's weight to keep himself from slipping. Bending low over it and putting his feet out before him wile he followed his four legged companion down the slope.
Of course as he started down it occurred to him the pack could slip free and go down the hill as well. Him along with it if he wasn't careful. In no time at all his linen shirt was soaked over his frame, shifting only when the wind whipped it to either side. "Going to catch our death one way or another if we're not careful." he cautioned.
Owens wasn't very keen on going down the hill as they were. Certainly there were other ways to go. As he paced through the rain, soaked and miserable he kept looking back to Kayle with big sad eyes. Finally, the dog settled on a way down and took to the task. Hesitant, careful, but committed.
Calaithes looks around the area that they would have to descend. Perhaps they could loop the rope that Nocilette had around a plant and use it to descend, in 25' steps....
Then he notices that the group is already heading down! "Hey! They provided that equipment to help us. They knew the rope would be helpful, probably right here! See, if we loop it here we can hold it to climb down 25'. Then when everyone is to that point we pull it down and loop it on another tree or bush."
Bohrs moves slowly and cautiously down the ravine with the assistance of his friends.
It's a slow descent, but it's worth the slowness, as no one slips and falls, although Kayle nearly does so when setting out. He loops his foot in an unseen root and begins to tumble, while Nicolette tosses the rope that Calaithes just tied his way and helps him to juuust steady enough to extricate himself from the precarious situation. He is much more cautious after that.
Even the least innately acrobatic of the group, Bohrs, manages the careful descent, though his god's exuberance almost seems to get the best of him near the end as he approaches a small outcropping. What would Cayden do? Certainly take a running jump! But no, with the strategy set, all of you make it to the bottom.
An archway of stone is set into the side of a small hill at the bottom of the valley. Moss has overgrown many of the details, but one is still quite clear. The keystone of the arch is carved with a flame symbol with a stylized rune in the middle. Beyond the archway is a darkened tunnel that leads to a pair of massive wooden doors, one of which is slightly ajar.
A pair of horses and a trio of ponies lie slaughtered next to the archway, each corpse still tied to a post set into the ground nearby. A swarm of flies hangs lazily in the air above them.
Bohrs looks around to see if he can spot anything out of the ordinary, apart from the dead ponies.
Seeing the dead animals and thinking about the villagers and this "test" of them Calaithes moves quickly through the area and to the horses. He scans the area for any human bodies before checking the horses.
"Look around quick. Our friends might all be inside but if anyone was out here they may still be alive!"
This was no gentle hill, and certainly one they could have avoided altogether were the skies not dumping upon them, obscuring vision.
At the bottom, she cleans up and tries to recall all of her gear used. The rope may get left behind if it is not for her other party members. She seems raring and ready to go.
When they get to the archway, she tilts her head at the sight of the ponies.
"Why would there be dead ponies here."
By the smell and flies, she can tell they are real, and not too lately dead. If they were, it would be a huge swarm flying rapidly around the bodies.
She hears Calaithes and is confused.
"What do you mean?" she asks as she moves swiftly to the ponies. There, she observes and sees what can be done with them. "Are you inclined to think we know the owners of these?" "Oh gods, I hope not..."
With the door being slightly ajar, she moves to open it further.
Calaithes glances up from one of the animals to Nicolette. "Yes. I think this whole quest is a 'coming of age' test. But, I think something has gone horribly wrong. Think about it. The illusion of the orcs. They gave us the resources that we'd need, including the rope for safely getting down the slope. The secrecy of what we'd face. I'm sure of it. But they wouldn't have killed these animals. Something is wrong and we need to be ready to face whatever killed these."
Looking over the bodies, Nicolette sees large gashes in the bodies, but she isn't sure exactly what caused them. Calaithes looks more closely, confirming that the horses are recently dead, killed maybe two days ago with crude blades, or perhaps claws. They certainly appear to be fresher than the scattered bones beneath one of the horses. The bones appear to be humanoid.
There saddlebags that the beasts of burden were once laden with are mostly empty, but Nicolette finds one that is still full. Inside are 2 days’ worth of rations, a pair of large, comfortable pillows, a quiver with 10 blunt arrows , and 2 pints of lamp oil.
You don't immediately recognize these goods or their owners. They could be from Kassen.
When Nicolette tries to push the wooden doors further open, she finds it remarkably heavier than she expected. It doesn't budge.
"I wonder if it is actually orcs this time. Gosh...I can't stand the thought of someone we know actually dead like this."
Filled with passion and rage, she kicks once at the door that was too stubborn for her with the restraint of her strength. Her companions will see now what she is truly capable of.
A moment later, the small-sized Nicolette grabs each massive horse by their harnesses, neck, and manes and then attempts to powerfully heave them off the humanoid bones. Both instances are feats of what will be great strength if she succeeds. Regardless of whether she does succeed or not, she will calm herself after to come to a point where her boiling blood calms. It is only then that she comes to her senses enough to notice the goods and that these ponies may be from Kassen.
Calaithes hears Nicolette's outburst right before her rage overwhelms her and she starts.... breaking things? "We don't know if this was orcs. Besides, if it was they probably would have carved up the horses for meat. And, " He spots the bones under the horses when she yanks the carcasses aside. "What is that? Are those human bones? But just bones? Not a body? I mean, where is the flesh? You know, like the muscle, skin, blood!?! There's blood from the horses so maybe it's mixed.... But where is the rest of the body or bodies?" He realizes that he's pretty much gibbering and forces himself to stop and examine the bones.
Nicolette's kick does the trick, and the door to the crypt flies open, illuminating the entry chamber with faint, dim light. But Nicolette doesn't stay to peek in, instead moving back towards the horses. With just as much power, she lifts both horses up and moves them aside. It is an impressive feat of strength--how could someone so small lift so much with scarcely any preparation?
With the horses moved out of the way, Calaithes looks more closely at the bones, talking himself around in circles. True enough, it's just bones here: no sinew seems to cling one bone to the next. It does look like just one skeleton, an medium-sized adult of some clearly humanoid lineage (though no tusks to suggest orcs or horns to suggest anything rarer). In addition to being crushed underneath the horse, the bones show signs of having been trampled. The bones are also very old. Even if it were not for all of the damage, they may have been brittle to begin with.
Bohrs ceremoniously pours out a swallow of ale over the bones, and repeats the same brief litany he did for the other remains they found.
”Well, now that the door’s unlocked, should we take a look inside?”
The shock of what they were seeing stifled Kayle from commenting, and he actually jumped at Nicolette's anger. Owens stuck close, ears down and looking with concern to his companion. Looking at the old bones though, Kayle's sense of dread lead him to take a guess at what they were.
"Could the people who did this be here to desecrate the tomb?" he reasoned, "Might these bones be what remains of... Kassen?" He stared wide eyed in shock at the bones before reluctantly leaning down to examine them.
When he finished he briefly looked at the open door. Concern not so much for the tomb, but that they might have to deal with whoever did this. The thought in the back of his mind he didn't share with the others, though worry was plain on his face.
If they slaughtered there horses, do they not intend to leave... the tomb?
Upon seeing Owens show fear, she calmed all the more and came to give him pets to ensure that she was not angry with him.
"Oh you are such a good boy. Don't you worry!" she whispers in only a way a dog would appreciate and hear clearly.
Upon listening to Cal and Kayle, she ponders.
"Who can say? Maybe they were bandits? Maybe townsfolk? I can't see why they would come here at this time of year however if they were raiding a tomb. They have literally all year when people aren't here. And these...Ancient bones? Like rumors of undead do you think? I can't see why they would have dragged up an old skeleton to here and then killed their horse..."
Shaking her head, she sets her eyes on the newly opened door and then will gather up the supplies left them, tying the pillows onto the outside of her pack. She then takes up her hammer and heads for the door, leading the way inside.
"It looks a bit dark in there for my eyes," Bohrs says. "May Cayden Cailean be my light in the darkness!" He raises his silver tankard in salute, and it glows with the brightness of a torch. He switches it to his left hand, and draws his rapier with the right. He moves to fall-in line with the others, taking his cue for them where he should be in the order.
Calaithes studies the bones for a bit longer, then shrugs and turns toward the door. "No answers there. Maybe the riders of these horses are alive and safe inside? We won't know until we enter. Let's get some light and enter...."
He starts to dig the torch out from the pack but then notices Bohrs. "Magic lights? Can you cast a second one Bohrs? Or Kayle? Can you cast that? I should lead so I can search for any traps or other dangers."
"Why, yes, yes I can!" Bohrs replies, jovially. "Where would you like me to place the light?"
Once Calaithes indicates what object his wishes the spell cast upon, Bohrs will oblige.
Kayle also has an orison for light, and he places it onto Calaithes palm when asked. "Might be able to cover it if you need to." he reasons, "If it doesn't wear off let me know." He gave a short chuckle at some random funny thought that comment seemed to inspire in him.
"I guess it's your turn to take point." he reasoned.
Owens perked up immediately as Nicolette spoke to him in puppy talk. Ears lifting in an instant and hind end lifting from the ground, tail wagging. He pushed in close, eager for all the pets he could get. Dogs really did live in the moment. He excitedly tried to lick her in the face if she stooped down low enough, though his level of success was more in her control than his.
All was right in the world again.
Calaithes grins when his "brother" puts a light spell in his palm. Closing his hand into a fist covers the light but otherwise he has all the light he needs. "Thanks Kayle. How long does it last?"
Once the group is ready Calaithes takes the lead moving through the door that Nicolette had kicked open. Slow and careful watching for any dangers to himself or the team.
You can only have one light spell active at any one time. If you cast this spell while another casting is still in effect, the previous casting is dispelled. If you make this spell permanent (through permanency or a similar effect), it does not count against this limit. Light can be used to counter or dispel any darkness spell of equal or lower spell level.
In an area of dim light, a character can see somewhat. Creatures within this area have concealment (20% miss chance in combat) from those without darkvision or the ability to see in darkness. A creature within an area of dim light can make a Stealth check to conceal itself. Areas of dim light include outside at night with a moon in the sky, bright starlight, and the area between 20 and 40 feet from a torch.
Characters with low-light vision (elves, gnomes, and half-elves) can see objects twice as far away as the given radius. Double the effective radius of bright light, normal light, and dim light for such characters.
Approaching the now-open door, your dual light spells reveal a long chamber with risen platforms on either side. A faded painting of Kassen is on the far wall. The walls are decorated with a scrolling pattern of villagers fighting off masked bandits and monsters. This artwork is still in relatively good condition, although water damage and lichen have taken their toll. The stench of mold and rot hangs heavy in the air. The room appears to have been the site of a gruesome--and recent--battle, with two bodies piled in the center and a number of skeletons clad in ancient armor scattered around. An echoing wail can be heard somewhere in the distance, beyond this foul chamber.
As you enter the room, six pile of bones stir with a rattle, rising up to take on human shape. Their long, bony fingers grasp rusted scimitars, and their empty eye sockets gaze at you as they begin to move forward.
Kayle and Owens
Calaithes
Bohrs
Skeletons
Nicolette
Map
At the sight of the battle inside, she knows after a few days, there is no chance any of them are alive. Still, she is careful with her earth breaker out front. When the wail sounds, and the skeletons rise, she wonders if the wail was a call of magic to rise these dead bodies.
"We should hold our ground here. They can't get at the rest of you if we do...These foul things are skeletons. I learned about them from the Captain. Mindless, yet likely evil."
She will tell them further things about what she knows of them.
Looking beyond, she tries to spot what made the call.
Nicolette relates to the group that, given their lack of flesh and muscles, bludgeoning weapons will be much more effective than any piercing or slashing weapons. . In addition, any cold effects will be completely ineffective. Although their brittle nature suggests that they would by minimally fortitudinous, they are not subject to the same kinds of effects that affect living creatures.
She doesn't see any kind of animating source like a necromancer.
Bohrs sheathes his rapier and draws his club. "Get behind me," Bohrs says to Calaithes. "You and Kayle can pelt them with your slings while Nicolette and I hold the line."
Caliathes is glad to step back per Bohrs suggestion. Hearing the suggestion about a weapon he digs out his sling and stone. "Thanks Bohrs. My stick might break their bones, but rocks should do as well. If you have to drop back let me know so I can be ready to step up."
Kayle, for once, wish he had studied more as he looked to the animated abominations. "I suppose heroes wouldn't just run away." he admitted nervously. Pulling out his sling and a sling bullet he began to spin it. To his credit Kayle did not run and stayed put behind Nicolette. He waited for one of the skeletons to step into the light, and then let loose his sling stone.
Owens was clearly agitated by the undead. His hackles going up and the dog crouching low and letting out a deep growl. He did not bark though, seemingly not having the nerve to announce his presence to the skeletons.
Seeing the undead horde beginning to move forward, the party reorganizes to present a strong front line. Kayle takes aim at the closest skeleton that he can see and sends a small ball of metal hurling between Nicolette and Bohrs' heads. It whistles through the air and punches a hole straight through the skeleton's broken chain shirt, shattering brittle ribs. The skeleton pauses for just a moment after the blow, and then continues to advance with its fellows.
Green, move
Orange, move
Purple, move
Yellow, move
The animated bones form a rattling phalanx of their own, pressing towards you with rusted blades raised. One skeleton takes a clumsy swing at Nicolette, its blade clattering against the door. Another slashes at Bohrs and catches the Caydenite directly in his center mass.
Kayle and Owens
Calaithes
Bohrs: -4
Skeletons (Blue -4; the rest are undamaged)
Nicolette
Map
Kayle and Owens
Calaithes
Bohrs: -4
Skeletons (Blue -4; the rest are undamaged)
Nicolette
When the bullet screams past her head and knocks down a skeleton, she cheers.
"That's why we keep you around!" she laughs. Part of her is nervous, but she tries to mock it away with bravado not normally seen in her.
"Just a few more!" she comments as her eyes filter into a deadly glare. As the first skeleton comes up onto her, she swings her hammer upward towards its hips and upper body.
"May the might of Cayden Cailean smite your bony arses!" Bohrs cries out, steeling himself against the pain of the wound.
Nicolette's blow connects with the skeleton in front of her and it completely shatters in a rain of bone and metal flying back. The other skeletons seem unperturbed by this development.
Meanwhile Bohrs pushes through the pain and invokes his god to send out a palpable wave of divine energy.
Cayden smiles on his acolyte as the next skeleton falls, its bones coming undone within its armor. The others seem variously affected, with the column directly in front of him seeming the most affected by divine retribution.
Kayle and Owens
Calaithes
Bohrs: -4
Skeletons
Red: dead
Blue: dead
Green: -3
Orange: -6
Purple: -3
Yellow: -6
Nicolette
Wishing that he had a safer, direct way to attack the shambling skeletons Calaithes spins up his sling and releases the bullet at the skeleton easiest to see....
Kayle is quick to follow suit, ignoring Owens panic in the heat of the moment. It wasn't like the dog could squeeze into the melee anyway. He aims as deep into the ranks of skeletons as he could to make his task easier.
"You two back up just a bit, I'm going to entice them in..." she orders to her companions behind her.
Hearing Nicolette's direction Calaithes steps back.
Despite Kayle's initial success at cracking into one of the skeletons, his second sling bullet joins his "brother's" in flying ineffectually.
Almost as if beckoned by her request, the skeletons continue their clattering forward march, stepping over the shattered remains of the fallen. Hefting their blades, they swing mercilessly with blade and jagged claws.
Bohrs fares well this time, parrying the skeleton's clumsy strikes. But Nicolette feels the hot spill of blood as the rusty scimitar wrenches into her.
Kayle and Owens
Calaithes
Bohrs: -4
Red & Blue: dead
Green & Purple: -3
Orange & Yellow: -6
Nicolette: -4
Kayle and Owens
Calaithes
Bohrs: -4
Red & Blue: dead
Green & Purple: -3
Orange & Yellow: -6
Nicolette: -4
Map
Nicolette shattered the bones of the skeleton, but his pal had a rusty razor meant for her. She screams in pain. For some reason, the bite of it seemed to grasp into her armor in a way that really hurt. In a streak of vengeance, she counters with a swing to its hip.
Assuming the one in front of the cleric is dead, she asks of him:
"Bohrs, hit him and then get around that corner . They are pretty mindless I'd imagine. They may try to follow you since you blasted them. Then I'll smack 'em!"
At the very least, their stone throwers will have a clear shot without soft cover to hit some of these skeletons. She moves likewise.
Nodding in acknowledgment of Nicolette’s expertise in this situation, Bohrs swings at the skeleton she indicates.
He then steps back behind the door, clearing the sight of Calaithes and Kayle.