Rabbit proffers up a bottle to the others as they plan. "Lady Talschornvox gave me this," he offers timidly. "I recognize it. It's an elixir to hide from things like skeletons...or ghouls, though not as effective as it would be against an undead that doesn't have any brain left. I think maybe it might be best if I used it-- I don't do much to hurt the monsters, but I can help everyone else still while I use it. Unless someone else wants it?"
He wonders who the ghoul in the red dress was... if she had family still in the town... but it doesn't seem like any joy can come from such questions, only sorrow, so he doesn't ask it aloud.
"Mr Tymos you are quite correct. I think a good nap before lunch is in order and then some high noon exploring. What about you gents?" Kevan says in response and begins the walk back to the farm.
"It would make sense for you to use it, Rabbit," Alden replies. "You have healing magic, and may be our last hope for survival if things go horribly wrong down there."
"It would make sense for you to use it, Rabbit," Alden replies. "You have healing magic, and may be our last hope for survival if things go horribly wrong down there."
"I agree. Given your explanation of how the potion works it should be used by someone who is least likely to engage in combat.
"I can give this holy weapon balm a try. Maybe using some of that magic metal stuff if we can't find the right ingredients otherwise. It'll probably take at least 2 or 3 days if not longer to make it though. Just sayin'" Kevan says regarding the weapon balm.
"I can give this holy weapon balm a try. Maybe using some of that magic metal stuff if we can't find the right ingredients otherwise. It'll probably take at least 2 or 3 days if not longer to make it though. Just sayin'" Kevan says regarding the weapon balm.
"Perhaps we should apprise Tymos of the situation and the possibility we might be able to make weapons to use against the ghouls. I'm sure he won't like the delay but, if it increases our odds of success, I think he'd ultimately agree it's worthwhile."
Rabbit tucks the potion away on his person as it seems that people are in agreement that he should keep it. He rubs at the back of his neck as the idea of making holy water is brought up.
"I.... I mean, if it's going to take days to make even a bottle or two... is it really worth waiting that long? I feel that the longer we delay, the greater the likelihood that something bad happens. The ghouls make a move of their own, the lord-mayor decides the deal isn't so good after all... I just feel nervous. ...of course, heh, I usually do, so... take it with a grain of salt."
"True. And we know now that regular weapons hurt them. Cast whatever magics you need, then let's go in and destroy any of them that we can find."
”I agree. It is time we honor our agreement.” He unshoulders his pack, and begins to assess what items would be needed in the tunnels below. The rest he will leave up here at the guard post, lest it slow him down or get caught in a narrow space.
"As soon as we rest and prepare our spells we'll be ready."
Kevan nods at the plan and makes a mental note of trying the blanch at a later date. He then marches back to the town, lays up for a 4 hour nap and then rises to grab lunch before taking on evil undead.
The party rests through the morning, coming back by midday. As they reach the cemetery Tymos greets them with a nod. He sported a sling pack across his back, and a half dozen torches were jutting out from it in a neat row. He looks the group over, and seeing them ready to go he steps past the gates of the graveyard with them.
The warped iron of the gates was partly twisted, groaning loudly in protest. The corner of one gate scraping the dirt as Tymos forcibly pushed it open.
Walking into the cemetery the group notes the corpse of the ghoul shot the previous evening. The head was a ruin, and the body appeared to have withered after dying a second time. Skin and muscles were taught over bone almost as if mummied, and the eyes were gone from hollowed and sunken sockets. The hair was withered as well, and the tattered dress seemed all the more fitting draped over such a sad sight.
There was a slight uphill slope toward the crypt, and as the party drew up on the step Tymos went ahead and lit a torch. Holding it high in one hand as he kept his shield at the ready in the other.
"I am fine in the front, but do any of you wish to go first and scout?" he asks.
Kevan can see in the dark (40') so he appreciates the opportunity to go ahead. If no one says otherwise, he steps into the crypt to try and find a monster. He moves down the steps as he tries to get out of the immediate bright light of the torch. Kevan moves as silently as he can (half speed, stealth +13) and sticks to the side of the wall taking advantage of nooks and crannies to conceal himself from other things that can see in the dark. As he goes he looks for any traps or hazards (Perception +10) and listens for signs of monsters.
"If Tymos wants the vanguard, then I will take the rearguard," Alden offers. "If the tunnels below are like a warren or burrow, these things could try to ambush us from all sides."
He draws his shining dagger, holding it in his left hand, and then his longsword in his right.
"Erastil be with us as we venture into this hungering darkness," he quietly intones.
Jaxom follows a bit behind Kevan. He doesn't have darkvision though so he stays within the light. He readies his Axe-Gauntlet for what he assumes will be a tense battle. "I'm not a trap spotter. But once we encounter the beasts I'll move in to chop them to pieces."
Rabbit is as nervous as ever as they prepare to go in. He will bury himself in the center of the group, one hand cradling Mr. Whisper to his chest and the other holding the potion that Talschornvox gave him, ready to drink it when they are attacked.
He pauses a moment at the body of the dead woman, or undead, or re-dead. She's a gruesome and tragic sight and again he wonders who she was, Before. He cannot quite help himself from trying to arrange her mangled, grotesque body into something a little more at repose-- crossing the arms over the chest, straightening the limbs-- but he spends no more than a handful of seconds doing this before it's time to move forward... and in.
Eochaidh, not being able to see in the dark, keeps his Light orison active so he and the others can see in the dark of the crypt.
He will also employ his Spirit Sense to detect the presence of undead.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
As the group files down into the crypt the light of Tymos' torch fills the first chamber with it's dim light. No immediate enemies are in sight, though the stone caskets arranged about the room have been opened and the passage deeper exceeds the limited light of the man's torch.
"Do any of you have any light?" he asks, "Or have you reconsidered taking a torch?" He speaks while keeping his gaze locked on Kevan, letting the rogue scout ahead.
Which proved fruitful, even in the dim light. Kevan notes a crossbow laid in the center of the floor by the passage forward, propped up on a flat piece of wood to give it the appropriate angle. A second glance reveals a tripwire running between the two nearest caskets to set it off.
Not much of a trap, but perhaps the ghouls were just hoping for a bumbling guard to come trip it in the gloom. It would be a simple enough matter to pluck the bolt from the crossbow or secure the tripwire so it can't be triggered at all.
Really, it was far too easy of a trap. Or was it?
I'm still learning how to do maps, but the good news is I have the entire map prepared and have figured out how to get this far.
[/ooc]
"I have this," Alden replies, holding aloft the shining dagger in his left hand. "If it is needed, I will hand it over."
Eochaidh casts the Light orison on his armor.
"Not a torch but some light for us to see."
Jaxom looks at the trap and into the darkness ahead. "So ghouls are smart enough to make traps? Good to know...."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Kevan puts up a hand hoping those behind him notice, then he moves up to the trapped crossbow looking for the best way to disarm it without triggering something (disable device +10).
"I can send a bit of light ahead of us too, if we need it," Rabbit whispers to try and be helpful.
"Of course, if I do that, they will definitely know we are coming and Mr. Nimblefingers won't have any advantage of surprise."
The crossbow is easy enough to disarm, and while there were multiple ways to do so, Kevan opts to go with a bit of style. Drawing his rapier, he flicks the crossbow bolt into the air to land on the tripwire. The crossbow fires and falls from it's perch without having anything to fire.
As the group investigates the stone caskets they find the bodies inside have been picked at. The flesh not yet fully mummified but still black and thin. An arm is missing from one, but generally it seems even the ghouls found nothing worth eating here.
The relief carved into the plaque in the center of the floor bears the symbol of Asmodeus. Noting it Tymos nods. "Long ago during a siege they carved out tunnels underground to bury the dead." he explains as he lifts his torch high, "These chambers were built later, to house dedicated members of the church."
The hallway beyond had stone tile floor, and there were stone shelves cut into the wall to hold many skeletal bodies laid out like too many people in a bed. The walls themselves were flat earth and stone, cut out into a shaft.
Kevan presses ahead, not bothered by the darkness. Coming to a fork in the tunnel he can see it splits into three paths. To his left there appears to be a room, though he can only note a sliver of it. Straight ahead and to his right seem to be shafts that end in T intersections.
Seeing all of the bodies as well as the symbol of Asmodeus Jaxom considers smashing things. What was wrong with a simple burial? He follows Kevan but stays in the light.
Kevan glances back over his shoulder making sure Tymos or someone else is paying attention. He meets their eyes briefly and then goes around the left corner. This was just like when he and Master Song snuck into the halls of the assassin league to recover the prince's sword. He was so excited but knew he had to remain all business down here. Moving slowly and deliberately, he continued looking for traps, ambushes or just unaware monsters.
Alden reflexively mutters a line from a longer prayer as he passes the diabolical symbols of Asmodeus.
"I believe in the Sun. Even when in darkness, or in the grip of Winter's chill, I know it still burns in the sky above."
Eochaidh will maintain his place in the marching order and utilizes his Spirit Sense to examine all areas.
Rabbit stays near the rear, occasionally whispering a small incantation to check for any magic near or around them. His heart beats fast in his throat as they go deeper into the crypt; the others may be experienced at this sort of thing but he is not. He tries to keep distance between Tymos and himself-- which in these close quarters mostly means making sure another person is between the two of them.
Alden will begin to sweep the area for indications of evil presences with Erastil's help.
As Kevan pads down the hallway he stays low, and moving down the hall he hears soft crunching coming from the larger room ahead. Peeking around the corner he sees a pair of forms huddled around a small cluster of bones. Their withered appearance and pointed ears mark them as ghouls. They don't seem to notice him in the moment, too focused on trying to chew into any potential marrow left in the bones.
As Alden and Eochaidh sit back and scan their surroundings they almost immediately sense a pair of evil undead in the opposite direction. only two pairs of red eyes stare back at them from the corner. They recognize the silhouette of a ghoul wearing dusty leather armor and holding a short sword. The second ping was likely unseen around the corner.
Eochaidh gives Jaxom a nudge and then readies himself to strike the ghoul:
Noticing Eochaidh nudge Jaxom, Rabbit tenses up. "Luck to you!" he whispers to Jaxom, and then, seemingly out of nerves, blurts a tiny strained giggle.
Seeing nobody else charging the undead Jaxom readies himself to attack when the ghouls come forward.
Kevan steps back to the corner (5' step), tries to get someone's attention and holds up two fingers and points. Whether someone notices him or not he readies to ambush strike a ghoul should it come this way. After all, if his teammates saw they may make noise when coming this way, if they did not, they may make noise as they follow him. Either situation is liable to draw the ghouls out.
Seeing the party wasn't attacking it the ghoul peeking at them from the corner snarled. "INNNNNNNNNNNNNNN-TRUDERS!" it wails loudly. It's shriek of outrage echoed off the walls and it turned and ducked back around the corner. To flee or take cover was unknown.
Initiative Order:
Eochaidh
Kevan
Rabbit
Jaxom
Ghouls
Alden
Eochaidh waits to see what happens.
Jaxom moves forward toward Kevan. "They know we're here. I don't know how smart they may be but obviously they're not mindless. Stay together so we can support anyone that gets paralyzed."
He takes the lead with some light since stealth obviously isn't working....
"Luck to you too, Eochaidh," Rabbit whispers, and his eerie giggling continues.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Luck to you too, Eochaidh," Rabbit whispers, and his eerie giggling continues.