You wanna join in Somonti? Should be good for your nerves
Somonti delivers what she I intends to be her best "Grandad, this is so beneath me!" Look.
"I don't have nerves. I just don't want to touch that thing."
Covering her reaction Somonti steps over to the body and pokes it with the blunt end of her 'spear.' It's the first dead body she can remember seeing and it doesn't horrify her nearly as much as she expected.
Maybe I'm a monster after all...
"I hope not to have to use it. If you wish to carry it until we can sell it I am ok with that." Sumak says.
Moon lays the sheathed blade in his hand. "Best you have it, in case there is a need."
Mizuchi watches, keeping quiet, observing the ongoings, death...was not a subject he watched often, his fascination with everything lead him to being told hs behavior was distasteful at best.
The party heads off once more down the trail, through the wood of leafless trees. The trail leads even deeper into the Fangwood, through a twisting maze of trees and confusing ravines. As it tops a small rise, a broad valley spreads out before it, the opposite side of which looks like a writhing serpent. Yet between the two likes a steep hill sloping down into the valley. A cold rain starts to fall, making the ground slick and treacherous.
"This is Serpent Gorge, it as on the map we were given we must be close now. We only have a few days rations, I'd rather press on. It could be days before these slopes dry off at this time of year."
Every competitive, Somonti moves dangerously close to the edge of the slope.
"Did anyone bring a rope?"
Yeap, I got a rope, and I think I have a reasonable idea how to not get hypothermia or break any bones while travelling!
Kazzar looks up at the sky to try and get a sense of how long the rain might last before speaking, but doesn't really manage to get a decent estimate.
"You both raise good points." He finally says, looking at Sumak and Somonti "I propose we keep going, with much care not to slip on our way down. The more it rains the worse it will get, and we have no idea when the ground might be dry enough for it to be safer.
"It's your quest and your choice. But if we run out of food, that makes it more difficult. I'm agile. I could test the slope, tied by the rope, if that fits Aeric's plan."
The rain shows no sign of stopping as the party makes their descent down the hill.
Aeric puts his scalemail into his backpack, and carefully descends.
Somonti watches as Moon displays her dexterity and moves cautiously down the slope. Not to be outdone, Somonti makes her own way down, ignoring the rope entirely.
Following Aeric's example and advice, Kazzar takes off his scale mail as well and tries to make his way down along with the others.
After what seems like forever, everyone makes it down the slope uninjured. At the bottom of the descent, lies another crumpled form. It's another body, however, it looks much fresher than the one at the lake. When Seffie checks the body, she yells, "He's alive." With some investigation, the man is identified as Samuel Wilson, a lumberjack from Kassen. He's unconscious and feverish with a broken ankle. Seffie and Jobu decide to take care of Samuel and get him back to Kassen while the rest of the party retrieves the Everflame.
As the rain continues to fall, the group travels the short trail across the valley to the crypt's entrance. When the trees open up, they see their destination.
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.
Something foul happened here, can our magically inclined scare off the flies somehow? They likely carry diseases
Aeric proposes as he reequips his scale mail.
Аэрик, ты меня слышишь? Аэрик? Кто-нибудь? He hears something in the back of his head
Huh? I got a weird feeling about this...
"Somethings gone horribly wrong here though, right?! I mean, I've seen how people value their horses back in town, Trelvar slept in the stables when one of the mares got sick last Autumn. Stealing horse is one thig but just to kill? Wolves again... Why aren't they eaten then? I'm not scared of flies, and I don't like all these Mysteries"
Doing her best to waft away the flies, Somonti approaches the carnage for a closer look.
Kazzar looks grimly at the corpses as he dons his scale mail as well, and nods at Somonti's questions.
"Like you said, it seems strange for this to be the work of wild beasts - the horses would have been eaten in that case. This sad act was most probably done by people."
"I don't think the owners of these horses would have tied them down just to kill them. So that would mean there are two groups of people here at the tomb besides us, right? One of which has no qualms about slaughtering other people's animals."
It's obvious that these were heavy-laden ponies. Their saddlebags are still attached.
Aeric cautiously approaches after covering up his face, Bardiche drawn. He stops about 30 feet off.
Kazzar approaches the bodies alongside Aeric, trying to notice anything else.
"Wait, are those... Bones? There, underneath that horse. Seem humanlike as well. Doesn't make much sense though - a body wouldn't decompose that quickly."
Kazzar moves a bit closer to the body in question.
"Anyone want to help me move the body to get a better look?"
Somonti is definitely getting a closer look
Holding her breath, trying to shake the remembered sound of screaming horses and the smell of burning, Somonti tries to help shift the carcasses.
Aeric holds his breath and gets to work.
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As Somonti and Aeric step up to help, Kazzar joins them in moving the body.
Aeric gives Kazzar a half approving, half subtly jealous look as Kazzar performs an epic display of strength. After a short moment, he smiles and his look turns fully approving.
It is good to have competent allies!
With the horse gone, the group is able to get a better look at the bones, though it doesn’t make everything clear. The bones are very old, and many are crushed as if trampled.
Kazzar takes a closer look at the body after they move it, before taking a better look at the uncovered bones.
"I'd say this horse was killed about two days ago. The wounds seem a bit odd, however. Like they were made by some sort of crude bladed weapon. Or some claws."
"And I don't know what to make of the bones either. They're too old." The half orc pauses for a moment as he looks towards the Crypt's entry. "Maybe our mystery attackers were graverobbers? But what could they possibly want with a skeleton?" Kazzar shakes his head, clearly uncomfortable with the idea that someone might have defiled the crypt.
The group turns away from the horses towards the crypt door, nerves on edge after that disturbing scene. Large wooden doors stand looming down a darkened tunnel. One door is ajar shining a sliver of light into the darkened void beyond.
Some type of undead maybe? Aeric offers
Undead skeletons with clawed weapons? Some of whom got crushed by the hooves of the horse? Be alert!
Viewing himself as the most seasoned fighter, Aeric takes the lead, Bardiche out and ready to strike.
"That makes sense." Kazzar nods at Aeric's suggestion "It fits. It fits all too well." Kazzar face darkens as he considers the implications and a hint of constrained fury can be heard in the typically calm half-orc's voice. "You think a necromancer might be loose inside Kassen's crypt? We must stop him at once!"
Holding his club with a two handed grip, Kazzar follows close behind Aeric, ready to bash any skeleton who gets past the man's bardiche.
"Let's get on with it then"
Somonti's knuckles whiten as she adjusts her grip on her makeshift spear and slips into the crypt, trying to make sure she is not last in line.
Aeric and Kazzar lead the party to the crypt's doors. They push open the heavy doors scattering faint light from outside revealing a long chamber with risen platforms on either side. A faded painting of Kassen is on the far wall. The room appears to be the site of a gruesome battle, with two bodies piled in the center and a number of skeletons scattered around. An echoing wail can be heard somewhere in the distance, beyond this foul chamber.
"How do you want to proceed, master Aeric?" Kazzar whispers to the more experienced fighter besides him as he cautiously eyes the unmoving skeletons on the ground. "I'm worried about those two bodies, but don't want to walk us into an ambush if those skeletons are just lying in wait."
Properly endowed with adventure levels of Paranoia, Aeric begins removing weapons from the dead bodies. Particlarly bows and arrows. And also removes heads from skeletons within the area.
Clearly undead, awaiting being called up again by whatever necromancy animated them, lets get rid of their weapons before this happens!
Somonti is less subtle, kicking the piles of bones to scatter them across the floor.
"We should check these bodies"
She bends over the bodies...
Moon watches, mostly silent, growing concerns furrowing her brow. She follows the group into the crypt and notes the low levels of light before offering, ”My eyes are better in dim light than most humans, due to my blood. Perhaps, it would be helpful if I was near the front?” She slides past a few members of the group while waiting for an objection. She keeps her senses peeled for any threat.
Following Aeric's suggestions, Kazzar moves to cover the left side of the room, while knocking away any weapon or skull he can reach. Razorwing stays close, alert to any danger.
Greywind, steps into the crypt as well, snifing at the fallen bodies.
The distant wailing continues as the group enters the crypt. It's not coming from this room, but somewhere to the east.
Aeric reaches down and picks up a scimitar from one of the skeletons. It's old, like "old" old, like old as Kassen old. The blade is rusted and set flimsy in the handle. It wobbles as Aeric holds it in his hand.
Moon, Sumak, and Kazzar all enter on high alert, watching and destroying skeletons.
The sound of bones clattering echo off the walls as Somanti kicks one of the piles. She looks intently at the bodies and sees that they have the same the wounds as the horses outside. She then realizes that the clattering hasn't stopped. She looks up to see what everyone else also notices. The skeletons are rising!
Round 1 (Bold may go in addition to Aeric's and Moon's opportunity attacks.)
Aeric 22
Kazzar 20
Skeletons 17
Sumak 15
Somanti 9
Moon 7
I've marked the 6 skeletons that are rising with a blue dot. The other skeletons are not rising; their bones clearly broken to those near.
Aeric: I moved you up based on your described action. Since it is rising next to you, you get an opportunity attack.
Moon: You also get an opportunity attack on one of the skeletons
Somanti: The skeleton next to you is taking longer to stand/form, because you kicked it's bones around. So, it will not get an action this round, and it considered prone.
Aeric:
Somanti:
Sumak:
Kazzar:
Moon:
Skeletons:
Skeletons have Improved Initiative, what?!
Aeric AC:17(FF:15/T:12)/ if raging CMD:17 if rage HP:11/11 Saves-FO:+3 RE:+2 WI:-1 Urban Bloodrager, Rage 5/5 willsave +3 vs charm/compulsion, +2 vs mind affecting, +2 vs fear, these stack.
Somonti AC:14(FF:13/T:11) CMD:14 HP:12/12 Saves-FO:+0 RE:+3 WI:+2
M Elan Dread(Fear in Flesh)
PP: 5/5
Sumak Wildheart AC:16 (FF:13/T: 13) CMD:12 HP:13/13 Saves-FO:+4 RE:+4 WI:+3
M Half Orc Wilder - Defenses: Sacred Tattoo
Spells: PP: 5/5 : 1st: Energy Ray [1]
Moon Akechi AC:16 (FF:12/T:16 ) CMD:20/16 HP:11/11 Saves-FO:+3 RE:+5 WI:+2
Human (Tian-Dan) Unchained Monk 1
Stunning fist: 1/1
Kazzar AC:16 (FF:15/T: 11) CMD:15 HP:11/11 Saves-FO:+5 RE:+2 WI:+5
Half-Orc Inquisitor (Sacred Huntsmaster/Green Faith Marshall) 1 - Defenses: Sacred Tattoo
Spells per day: 1st: 2/2
Greywind AC:14(FF:12/T:12) CMD:14 HP:17/17 Saves-FO:+5 RE:+5 WI:+5
M Wolf Animal Companion
Razerwing AC:16(FF:13/T:15) CMD:9 HP:5/5 Saves-FO:+2 RE:+5 WI:+4
T Hawk Familiar
Vs.
Skeleton (6) AC:16(FF:14/T:12) CMD:14 HP:(4/4)(4/4)(4/4)(4/4)(4/4)(4/4) Saves-FO:+0 RE:+2 WI:+2
M Undead – Defenses: DR 5/bludgeoning; Immune: cold, mind-effects, bleed, disease, paralysis, poison, sleep, non-leathal damage, ability drain, energy drain, physical ability damage; exhuastion, fatigue, fortitude saves that don't work on objects;.
INTO OUR MOTHERLAND
DESKARIS ARMIES MARCH
HEROES STAND SIDE BY SIDE
WE WILL SMASH THEIR FIENDISH CHARGE
Aeric erupts into action, immidiatly shatter the skeleton rising next to him with a massive blow, utterly disregarding its damage resistance.
In his own turn, he flies into a rage, his hands turning into claws and his eyes turning pitch black, 5 foot steps over the skeleton he just crushed and slams his clawlike fists into the skeleton further south
He eviscarates the creature with his first blow. (Claws do bludgeoning/slashing so they would pierce the DR)
I AM A WIZARD
I CAN CAST FIST!
He informs his adversaries, careing little about their mindlessness.
1/5 rage rounds used.
Moon reacts before she can think... delivering a stamp kick to the skull of the denuded skeleton crawling from the earth next to her. The blow lacked power but she wasn't entirely displeased with her aim.
"Greywind, bring the skeletons down!" Kazzar tells his wolf as he runs at the skeleton rising in front of him, hitting it with a powerful swing from his club.
Greywind sprints over the fallen bodies and tries to bite the skeleton in front. But being used to more meaty prey, its bite misses its mark.