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From behind the wooden door the group continues to hear the voice from within; “Dimira… they know her… Couldn’t be… tricks of the dead one… the dead one who speaks...”
With that you hear what sounds like something scooting on the floor followed by a slam against the door
You take a few moments to think on your studies and while most of the undead you have read about, zombies or skeletons, are mostly mindless besides simple task. Though there are a few things like Ghouls, mummies or other more powerful undead that do have the intelligence to speak.
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Joras concentrates to block out the chatter, as he listens for a response, that turns out to just bring up more questions.
Joras mutters, ""Kinda sounds familiar, thinking..."
Try to understand what he heard means.
"Lots of undead are mindless but many are not also, the good father give a speech on that once. Of course we don't know if the person on the other side of the door isn't one of them too." Joras finishes warily.
"Why would the dead try to block the door? "
Miron keeps watch down the corridor, trying not to get distracted by the tear in his sleeve.
Hmm.. maybe I could cut up one of the pillows to mend it.
With Conrad’s attack of the door, it causes the door to splinter and break. Light from within pours between the cracks. But that isn’t all as a bolt flies from between the newly formed cracks; “You won’t take me… the voice took her… angry bones, die!” The bolt hits off the wall and breaks.
Conrad and see an outline of a humanoid figure moving about from what he can tell, he is wearing similar clothing as those from Kassen wears. He also believes that one more attack like that would finish the door off and the group could get past it.
Perri tries to plead with whoever is within the room, but it appears as if they think that the group is undead and trying to get to them.
Those within 15 feet of the door can hear the cranking of a crossbow.
Hey, lay off the crossbow. we are not the dead, and let us in.
Brandark steps back and waits for a response.
Conrad makes quick work of the door breaking through the rest of the slats. Behind it is a pile of chairs and a few barrels that were used to create a makeshift barricade. You see a sad pitiful sight as a man lets out a wail as he runs to the corner of the room, dropping a finely crafted Light Crossbow that he was in the process of loading. “Oh no… they have got me… sister I have failed you..” the man continues to cry in the corner of this room.
It looks as if this man was living here for a short while. It has the smell of sweat and urine on top of the already musty aroma of the tomb.
"What do you mean we got you? Why would we be after you?", Roya is genuinely confused, "Is Dinira your sister?"
"Is there an undead that can talk here? Did it raise the others?" - she had heared of lost temples, forgotten tombs, ruined castles being taken over by monsters who laired there, or undead who populated them. In stories. She'd never expect something like that to happen in Kassen - but those stories did originate somewhere...not just in the minds of wandering bards.
Joras says quietly, "Give me a moment please, everyone."
Joras slips through forward towards the broken man. Gently, he says, ""I'm very alive and we will help you." He then breaks into song going directly to the lyrics and making any small adjustments to match the situation.
Break through his dispair, giving clarity and hope.
"Well, we got you out, if you'll come out, that is. We aren't dead. We're alive, and we intend to stay that way."
"We're from Kassen." Miron offers. "The town, that is. Do you want some food or water?"
Brandark reaches down and picks up the dropped crossbow.
Nice bow, wish i could keep it
Hey sir, you dropped this. No harm, no foul so long as you dont try to use it on us again
He then takes a step towards him holding out the crossbow
The man still pitifully huddled in the corner speaks up as Roya brings up an undead that can talk. “The walking bones… one with the voice of death… he stalks these halls in ancient mail…” as he continues to cry in the corner.
At the mention of Kassen and his sister the man begins to speak again; “the voice of death took her… walking bones attacked in the middle of the night… clawing… ripping… poor Dimira…”
You would know with a simple K-Local check because of the name Dimira that this is Roldare, another friend of the mayor. He is a man who does odd jobs around the village for those who needs it. Dimira is his sister.
As Brandark offers the crossbow back to Roldare, the man moves back from the dwarf; “Save my sister… it is yours…” he continues to lean against the wall in the corner staring off into the flame of the torch in the corner. From the looks of it, Roldare is broken. He has seen things that his mind could not handle.
Miron mentions food and water and his eyes turn and lock onto Miron; "...please..."
Outside of the now broken door, this room looks as if it could provide decent shelter if the group would ever need to retreat to recuperate and reevaluate next steps. There are extra bedrolls on the floor, though one looks to be wet. That is where the urine aroma is coming from.
Joras will assist with getting water and some food for Roldare. With coughs and a thin voice, he says, "We'll do all we can, Roldare."
Joras croaks a bit, "Sorry my voice is giving out, it's been a long day." Joras looks over the room, "It appears it's been a while, just how many walking bones are there anyway? Doesn't seem that we can hole up either, that's just a way to wait for the end. If we are getting out of this we need to whittle numbers down, if possible. How big is this place? I was thinking it would be a room or two, now it looks way bigger than any building in town. We don't have time or supplies to wait it out. If we had a clue to where the Lantern was, just head for that. Or we fight all the restless dead, if we can take them in small groups that might work, if there are not too many."
Joras give a rueful smile without mirth. "I say standing pat won't get us anywhere, we have to move against as quickly as we can; every hour we grow more tired, and this room, without a stout door, is a trap. We move fast, do what we came for, look for this poor man's loved one, to the extent we can, and leave as quick as possible."
Joras says, "We can start by checking the pool on the other side, if it's not magicked or otherwise dangerous water that could buy us time. Still we don't have much let's use it."
"Makes sense. The man who doesn't move is easy for his enemy to find or avoid, as the enemy chooses. Don't let the enemy define the contest."
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The state in which Roldare finds himself in sends shivers down Conrad's spine. He kneels next to the man, and puts a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"W-we'll do our best. Okay? Y-you just stay here. S-shelyn will watch over you."
He listens to Joras's suggestions. "A-agreed. We should move on, à-and get this place rid of u-undead. Y-you heard Roldare. T-they're dangerous. T-they're k-killed his sister, o-or..."He pauses, and hesitates. "S+she was captured and W-we need to save her... I don't know. B-but we'll help."
He glances at his torch, which is finishing consuming itself on the ground. "S-should we leave him a light? I-or maybe take him with us? II don't think he's safe here." Perri's comments have obviously got him worried for the man's safety.
Eating what food is offered, Roldare answers questions the best he can; “Everflame in lower level… down below…” With an offer of staying here, Roldare nods; “Stay until Dimira is found… please find her…”
Looking through the stuff that was blocking the door, you find an unlit bullseye lantern, a quiver with 12 bolts, and a small pack.
4 flasks of lantern oil, two potions marked ”healing” , and the crumb filled remains of ration packs.
Miron hands over his waterskin and one of his rations to Roldare.
"He's pretty spooked, I don't think it'll be good for him to come. We can probably try to fix up the door a bit so the barracade is still good. But we should check the rooms near here first."
"I...I know this room is kind of a camp thingie. With a broken door. But it...it really stinks like pee. If we do stay here, or need to rest, I'd really like if we could set up outside, at the entrance...with our tents and fresh air and only one door to watch for any animated dead coming at us and no wall in our back.", Roya brings up. "I'm saying it now because maybe we could move what we need from here to the entrance, and also bring Roldare there...I mean, he says he wants to stay, but it doesn't have to be exactly this room does it? Maybe go outside, and I can ask Erastil to provide some water so you can wash yourself? And those soiled breeches?"
Joras is taking sips of water, and lightly humming to clear his throat to help with any more strain on his voice.
On hearing Roya, Joras chimes in, "That's (cough) a good idea, Roya. Places that are not here is going to be better. We can give him some torches, but should one of us casters leave him a light?" Joras ponders that trivial question to crowd out the many awful questions swarming his mind.
Brandark looks over.
Sir, do you mind
He indicates the pack, and assuming he isn't stopped quickly glances in it.
You don't have food, but you do have oil for that lantern. If we were to escort you to the entrance and promise to find your sister, would you let us use the lantern. We will also leave you food so you have something to eat.
He pulls his crossbow off his back, and slings the masterwork crossbow into a sling and puts it on his back.
He gathers the stuff up, and offers a hand to the addled and frightened Roldare.
I think he might be better off in the light, and outside. We already promised to look for his sister, so we can do that better without worrying about him being stuck in this room.
As the group brings attention to the urine soaked bedroll Roldare turns down his eyes in embarrassment. But when Brandark ask about the pack he speaks up; “Use what you need… just bring back Dimira… please…”
As Brandark mentions taking him outside the group remembers his two dead friends at the entry chamber and the slaughtered horses just outside. In the state that Roldare is in, you would think that might not be the best thing mentally for him.
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As Brandark mentions taking him outside the group remembers his two dead friends at the entry chamber and the slaughtered horses just outside. In the state that Roldare is in, you would think that might not be the best thing mentally for him.
"W-we can't let him wait near the horses. R-Right? I-I hate to leave him like this- but..." Conrad shakes his head, feeling completely powerless about the whole thing. "T-There's not much else we can do. A-and a light m-might bring the monsters."
He looks into the pack, but finds nothing that could help, aside from the healing potions. "S-should we take them? He might need it."
Before moving on, he inspects the door, wincing at the damage he's caused. "I-is there no way to repair it a bit? T-try to bolt it?"
"I'm o-okay with checking the pool n-next."
"I don't think he's going to be good wherever we help him set up. Anyone see any other way in or out of this room besides the door we broke? Helping set up a solid barricade will have him as safe as he was, if better fed."
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"My magical lights don't last that long, I have to keep renewing it. But we can leave him a torch."
"If there's another room with only one door, that would be another good place to hole up. We wouldn't need to worry about fixing the door, and it would be cleaner too."
Miron turns to Roldare. "Do you know much about this place, have you been here before? Are there any other rooms that only have one door?"
If he is letting use both his lantern and oils, we can let him use all our torches. as for a different room, that makes sense
Brandark picks the oil up along with the lantern.
Lets get him sorted quickly and then get going
Joras now remembers the horrific scene outside after Conrad reminds everyone of it. After others discuss it he says, "Okay if we can find a better spot for me that's good if not we'll need to clean this up a bit and remove that -", Joras points to the messy bedroll, " and otherwise secure the area."
He also address Miron, "My light lasts till I cast it again or have to do my centering for spell renewal. But likely you are right to keep such for our lighting, so that we do not need to use torches much."
Joras thinks for a moment and says, "We should keep one or two torches, in case we need to set something on fire. Not that I think that's a good idea but in some stories that he how the very lucky hero fights off some fell creature."
Roldare nods to Miron; “There are a few… but I’ll stay here… it’s safe in here… no walking bones…”
The group would realize that this is currently the safest spot for him. If you found a safe location that was cleared the way there you could always entertain the option to come back and try to convince Roldare to move safe havens.
The door as it is isn’t fully off the henges, a few of the bound planks are broken free and the locking mechanism no longer functions or latches the door shut. But, with the barrels you believe that he could barricade the door shut again.
After getting Roldare settled, taking anything the party needs from the pack he offered, including his light crossbow, the group backtracks through the hallway to the room of pillars and pits and back into the main entry chamber of this tomb.
As you get to the entrance of the room west of the entry chamber you see that there is a large pool of clear water, fed by a fountain on the wall above it. The fountain has a stone statue of a weeping maiden holding the slain body of Kassen, but his head has been broken off and is nowhere to be seen. Like a clap of thunder a voice booms out from the darkness, saying: “Magic is the key.” The voice slowly fades, leaving a dreadful silence.
You see to the southern side of this room are two doors. Other than that, there is nothing in the room.
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If Conrad hears no objection from Roldare, he'l' take the healing potions, privately hoping he'll get to give them back.
He'll fix the door as best as he can, and briefly wonders if he should let his wooden statuette of Shelby with Roldare. But given how the man treated his bedroll - and fearing he might need the statue for himself -, he abstains. He does give him one of his two remaining torches, and lits the last one for himself.
He does feel terribly guilty about not lending the statuette, and when the booming voice suddenly comes out of nowhere, it startles him. He shoots nervous glances around him. "I-I don't like it."
"M-Magic is the key?" at a complete and utter loss, he inspects the two doors and the statue for...
He's not even sure what. Clues? Traps?
"I...didn't think I would need it. I did not prepare a spell to detect magic, but maybe that is what we should look for?", Roya suggests helpfully, then lights another stone up with her light cantrip and throws it into the middle of the pool.
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Brandark waves conrad off from liggting one of his remaining torches.
Oi, he is letting us borrow the lantern. so here carry this instead of a torch
Brandark passes Conrad the lit bullseye lantern.
Once he hears the warning, he grips his urgosh tightly as he looks around the room.
"Well, if Magic is the key, then somebody besides me is going to need to turn it." He tries to smile, but it shows weakly, as he continues watching for more undead.
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Brandark waves conrad off from liggting one of his remaining torches.
Oi, he is letting us borrow the lantern. so here carry this instead of a torch
Brandark passes Conrad the lit bullseye lantern.
Once he hears the warning, he grips his urgosh tightly as he looks around the room.
Conrad puts his torch away, a little embarrassed, and gladly accepts the lantern...
Miron looks up at the headless statue. "I can look for magic. Maybe we have to use it to find the head? Unless, it was the invaders that broke it."
He casts his cantrip and the pale blue light shimmers over his eyes as he looks about the room.
Joras is looking around the room trying to see if anything unusual is about. When Roya tosses her light into the pool he looks into it, hopefully not to be eaten by something popping out of it.
See anything about preferably before it sees me.
As the voice dies down, Conrad moves in to inspect the two doors. He does not see any signs of traps, but can tell that the doors are both locked. There is a key hole.
Roya moves forward and drops the stone with a Light spell attached. As the stone drops to the bottom you believe it is roughly 40 feet down. With the moving of water it isn’t easy making out what is below, but you do see the light reflecting off something that covers the bottom of the pool.
Miron looks around the room and nothing detects as magical. The fountain must be flowing from a natural spring or a watermill pump system to bring the water up from its fountain. As he looks at the water, Miron does detect faint magic from something below. It is part of or one of the things that Roya’s Light spell is reflecting from. With the water splashing into the pool it is near impossible to tell without going to the bottom to see.
"There is something down there, yeah. See how the light from my stone is reflected? Something down there does that. Maybe a broken mirror, or something metal. Can't really say from up here. I suppose someone would have to take a dip?"
She looks up at Conrad, then at her companions before continuing to speak:"I...er, can swim a bit, but not really dive. Just like, not drown, you know? Any of you would like to volunteer? We still have the rope..."
Joras sees nothing of great interest. He shrugs at Conrad's question, "Looks like the bottom of the pool is some kind of metal - other than that I can't see; the splashing is making too many waves."
Joras turns to Miron, "Can you see anything magic around?", he asks.
Joras chimes in, "Flips in the air I can do but swimming is rather poor as well, has anyone done a lot of it?", Joras ends on a hopeful tone.
Ha, I swim about as well as a brick. But I have an idea.
First we tie a rope around the volunteers waist.
Second, the volunteer steps in a allows themselves to sink to bottom to grab item.
Third, group on surface pulls waterlogged person out, preferably before they drown.
"I swim pretty well. Would need to take the time to get out of the armor to keep it easier, though. Want me to go look? With or without the rope?"
"There's something magic down there. I can't make out what it is though from up here though." Miron says, peering down through the water.
"Do you think we can block the water? Or stop it spraying everywhere at least? That might make it easier to see down. D'you think the cushions could work?"
Perri, I be thinking that there might be a trap down there, so you being out of your armour will not help.
"If we are worried about a trap, he can take his pokey-stickey with him and poke around with it...Miron says it's magic down there, so if it REALLY is a trap the armor likely won't help. The rope could, though.", Roya responds, then decides to lay down flat on the floor and attempts to put her face/head below the water surface for a moment, in the hopes of seeing a bit better what is at the ground.
The group looks at the pool and even if the water had stopped flowing into it, it would still be difficult to see.
Roya moves to the pool and puts her face in to see. Doing this Roya realizes that it isn’t a thing that the light is reflecting from. It is things. But it is too hard from this distance to really see what it is.