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Sterling's hooded head snaps around at the sound of Cole's familiar shout.
The cleric begins to run out of the room, but stops at the doorway, then turns to point directly at Zek. "Lock. The. Door." The cleric then dashes off, at a surprising speed that would make Kenzo or Zek proud.
Entering the small vault, Sterling also clearly tenses from the innate feeling of WRONGness in the chamber. He reflexively holds up his own large holy symbol, a minor prayer causing it burst into light, chasing all remaining shadows, if not the feeling of dread, from the vault.
He also murmurs a simple prayer/chant of magic detection, and flinches again when every item in the room glows to his Pharasma-blessed sight. But they are glowing in darker, sickly versions of the cheerful colors of magic he is used to seeing when using this prayer. It's oddly refreshing. The cleric flinches, again, when bastion picks up the tangle of holy symbols. "Ah, Zek? I wouldn't be so quick to claim anything in this room. And I'm a noted packrat." He says, jabbing a thumb at his overloaded backpack, with several items sticking out that can only be wrapped weapons of some kind. (Cole and Teo note that this is delivered in his usual deadpan, but without any of his usual snark or sarcasm. That alone sends minor alarm bells off for both of them.) "These were left locked in here, precisely because they are safe. Period. IF Kenzo is correct, and if that axe belonged to the Wraith, then there are potentially 7 total undead creatures on par with the Wraith. Yet, these were locked up before the fire,... meaning these items belonged to the prisoners, and were dangerous prior. HMmmmm." Sterling retreats back under his hood, peering at, but not touching, the various items on the shelves.
"It's odd there's no axe among the things from down there. The wraith emerged from the hole. The skeletal remains from the hole show the same kind of leg injuries we could see on the wraith. So, we know its appearance mimics its corpse. But, the items match those of a guard or warden, keys, weapons and so forth. I would expect an axe though since the wraith used one." Sterling rubs his whiskerless chin thoughtfully. "Many incorporeal undead take a form more attuned to how they saw themselves, as opposed to reality. A heavyset older man might well appear as he remembers himself in his youth, slim and strong. This poor soul may have simply liked Axes. Or perhaps he was the Prisons' executioner. As such he would associate himself with an axe. Not the mace he normally carried." Sterling shrugs, and returns to leaning on his staff.
"So, We have a new weapon. An excellent alarm device. (usable as either alarm, or distraction) And a set of keys to potentially the entire facility. Not bad for a soul-sucking abomination." The cleric makes a small spiral of Pharasma over the remains of the Wights' physical remains as he makes the comment though. "We are also weary, and I for one am running low on stamina to channel the blessings of Pharasma. If we run into another fight like THIS one, we run risk of being seriously injured. Or worse." He adds darkly. "I feel like we are bumping our heads in the dark. With what we have learned here, we should be able to research more, better knowing what to look for. We can return refreshed tomorrow morn, and be better prepared." The cleric tucks the stone of alarm away in a pocket and leans on his staff. Clearly done speaking.
"Water is easy." Sterling says softly, glancing up from his inspection of the stone cube. "A basic prayer. But it would take days to cover the entire building, above and below, with prayer-brought water. Even longer if we were to try and bless it as it was conjured." He tilts his head thoughtfully.
Sterling picks up the solitary skull without a corpse, and holds it up level with his own cowled head, facing him.
"Alas, poor soul. I knew him not. Was he a fellow of infinite jest? Or was he prone to fits of maudlin introspection? Or does anyone miss him now that he's gone?" "Meh. Or something like that." He mutters, looking back at the others.
Sterling returns the skull to the floor as Cole offers him the stone cube. "Hmm. Curious sort of thing for a guard OR a prisoner to have. Isn't it?" The cleric pushes his hood back far enough to reveal his face. He murmurs a near-silent prayer, and makes a small Spiral with a finger. His eyes glow blue briefly. And he examines the small pile of gathered items before turning his full attention to the cube.
Sterling nods, slowly. "No bet. Although, I wouldn't think that a prisoner deserving enough to be held in a pit would have anything of value on him. Unless,... the remains hold a clue about what transpired here? The cleric seems uncertain. (Well. It seems certain that he would like to NOT begin another fight like they JUST finished!)
Sterling looks around. Teo and Cole can tell he is being 'serious', even though it is the same deadpan, wry delivery as most of his speech. "We may need to re-group. I am surprised at the variety, and deadliness, of the restless spirits that reside here. Haunts were to be expected. Free-roaming Skeletons? OK. But a Wraith? And a powerful one at that." Sterling shakes his hooded head.
"That's a pity. I'm sure I would find a few discussions, enlightening." Then the cleric looks at where the wraith was standing. "Oh. Right. No more haunted THERE." The cleric looks at Cole.
Sterling looks up and around.
Seeing the creature give him the stink-eye, Sterling responds by calmly holding up his fist with first and pinkie fingers extended, shooting the creature the Tines.
Spoiler:
The cleric then calmly points his finger at the Wraith, and unleashes a thin beam of radiant energy.
"Will someone kindly dispatch That offensive abomination?" Sterling intones calmly, and almost sweetly. Almost TOO calmly, and entirely too sweetly.
The others can hear Sterlings snarl. The cleric raises his right arm high, and draws a large spiral above his own head. There is another pulse of positive energy that washes over the area.
Sterling moves forward, even as their new friend hisses the universal battle-cry of the adventurer. (CLERIC!) "Wraith. Begone. Now." The cleric leans casually on his staff, and points an imperious finger at the undead being crowded around by his more martial friends. A glimmering ray of golden radiance reaches from his finger for the Wraith.
"WHAT in the name of Pharasma's Knickers was THAT?!?" Sterling growls. Reacting instinctively, the cleric dashes forward, sliding between his companions with dexterous ease, trying to see what abomination they have to deal with. This time.
Sterling glances as Zyblina rejoins them. Does a small double -take, (so small it is easy to miss under his hood). Then shakes his head slightly, as if to clear it. The cleric nods at Zyblina, then pads cautiously forward, not wanting their new scout and the heavy hitters to get too far away.
"After you." Sterling murmurs in the general direction of Cole and Zek.
"Yeah. We're gonna need to have a long talk later." The cleric sighs.
"You two are gonna get along great."
Sterling shrugs. "Channel Positive Energy. One of Pharasma's blessings. Human,...oids, it heals. Undead,..."The cleric gestures to the remains of the burning Skeletons. ",... It sends to their final rest. I can only do that another few times before I'm exhausted. I'll conserve them for emergencies. Although it IS very satisfying to watch undead fall at your feet."
Sterling nods in agreement with the large man.
Sterling looks at Ogre, Cole and the others. "Gather near." Making sure that the entire group is in range, Sterling lets loose another burst of Positive energy.
:( The cleric Tsk's again under his hood. And growls as he does it again,...
In his normal, flat, voice, The cleric continues. "The good Doctor had a long habit of helping others. And being in the right places at the right times. Seems appropriate that we return the favor by helping others in turn."
Maybe it's the cleric's true nature showing, or maybe he has a soft spot for those who also participate in worshiping Pharasma. But he makes a small gesture towards Zek', and then to the others. "Care to join us in finding out what the Doctor found so mysterious about this place? Other than Haunts, Slime Zombies, and Burning Skeletons."
Sterling "Tsks"from under his hood. "We don't need no stinking badges."
Sterling takes a step back as the humanoid jumps down to join them, then coughs to cover his chortle at the bold little lizard-person. The cleric tugs his hood back into its customary place. Hiding his face. "Pharasma's blessing be upon you Zek'Karis." Sterling intones softly. "Ahem. WE did NOT 'lose' the body. It vanished. Or was taken. Even though it was supposedly never left alone once discovered. It is one of the mysteries we hope to solve. Along with his death. We are told He showed no signs of injury." "You said, you knew the good Doctor? Enough for him to have a nickname for you. How did you know him?"
"A cult that uses undead? NOW you have my attention."
Sterling shrugs.
Sterling again glances at Teo, Cole, and the rest. "Although, the locals are VERY wary of strangers, due to folks recently being spotted nearby who never stay to talk, and keep themselves hidden. I can't imagine that you garnered a warm welcome when you arrived. No Offense." He adds dryly. (Is that a small smile Teo and Cole spot under hood? The rest might see it too, but probably think he's having gas or something.) Sterling holds up his Holy Symbol of Pharasma.
"You wear the Spiral. If you follow Pharasma, can we call a truce? And talk face to,... face? This shouting upwards is giving me a crick in my neck."
Sterling reflexively makes a small spiral of Pharasma upon seeing the newcomers' chest. He clears his throat, glancing at Teo and Cole, before responding. "Ah, Council business? No. I'm here on a,... personal matter. As are the rest of these folks." Sterling looks up, furrowed brow obvious even under his low hood. "Who did the cultists kill?"
"We were called to this town to meet a friend of our mutual acquaintance. Upon our arrival we discovered our friend had mysteriously died. Before he could be buried, his body vanished as well." Sterling tilts his head up high enough that you can almost see his eyes under his hood. "Tell me about these 'Cultists'. Please."
Sterling sighs. Dramatically. "Ahem. Not to be rude. Not that it would bother me either way, But if you are NOT a spook, specter, spirit, or other form of Pharasma-defying phantasm, would you be so kind as to show your face? Maybe give a friendly wave? I'm finding this interrogation by disembodied voices somewhat uncomfortable." The cleric calls upwards in a flat, almost bored, tone.
"Oh, you have NO idea,..." wait, predates?"[/b]
"Living or dead, it sounds awfully,... Hissy. I'd wager a reptilian?"
Even the implacable Sterling seems shocked to hear a voice coming from behind them, judging by the speed his hooded head snaps around.
"I swear, if you say 'I told you so' about checking the rest of the ground floor,..." The cleric hisses to Cole.
Once assuring himself that everyone is OK, and the room holds no more po-up surprises, Sterling examines the remains of the skeletons. AT the very least they seemed resistant to Cole's flames. And he is curious,...
Sterling throws up an arm to protect his face as the skeletons end in a fiery fit of pique! The cleric lowers his arm, looks around at the others. Seeing Cole and Bastion somewhat scorched, the hooded figure tilts his head. "Um. Sorry. They were supposed to go down the FIRST time."
It is hard to tell. Is he more upset that his companions were injured? Or that the Skellys did not fall like dominoes with the first display of Pharasma's power?
Sterling frowns. "Uppity undead want to go out with a bang. They need to learn, when a servant of Pharasma says lie down,... You, Stay, DOWN!" 'The Raven' holds his unusual holy symbol high above his head, and sends forth another burst of positive energy,...
Sterling finishes adjusting his hood, and realizes he now alone in the chamber. He shakes his head. "Undead-filled haunted-prison, and they run off without the Cleric. Typical." His voice is sarcastic, but his steps are fleet as he moves to join the others. Seeing the situation, and surprised at the lack of damaged skeletons in the chamber, (especially being familiar with Cole's specialty) Sterling moves past Teo and close to Ogre, using the burly barbarian and the chambers' central pile of rubble as protection from immediate skeleton reprisal. "I've got this." He says without apparent pride or ego. It is simply a statement of fact.
Sterling tilts his head slightly, and a hiss escapes from under his hood. "Shabti. If I'm not mistaken." The cleric says coldly. Sterling looks at Teo, "An Orisini construct. A construct body made to house a soul. Usually to escape punishment in the afterlife. Or otherwise cheat death." The cleric reaches up and rubs his temple.
Sterling sighs, a bit dramatic for the usually reserved cleric, and pulls back his hood enough to see his face as he looks Sergei, or whomever it is, in the eyes. "Seems you've put me in a bit of a predicament Sergei, um,... Marcella. Avoiding the afterlife is a big 'NO-NO', and something I'm required to address when discovered. With extreme prejudice. BUT,... I've never heard of a Shabti housing more than one soul. You aren't some Archmage trying to avoid the afterlife via lichdom. You're, something else." Sterling relaxes a bit, a ghost of a smile on his lips.
Sterling stops at the sound of Ogre's battle cry, followed immediately by the familiar sound of Cole's fire magic. He sighs again, more in frustration this time, and pulls his hood back up. "Of course. JUST when things were getting interesting. I hope we can continue this discussion later."
Sterling tilts his head curiously to one side as Teo begins speaking with,... Marcella?
"Hm. 'Very Haunted' indeed."
Sterling makes his way down, with minimal assistance. The cleric adjusts his hood and watches with interest as Sergei magics his own rope-ladder into the hole. Sterling steps slightly closer to Sergei. Not, quite, within touching distance. "Sergei? What language is that?"
Sterling nods slowly at Cole. "A good plan." The cleric frowns slightly. "If that doesn't work, I can use the power of Pharasma to injure and probably destroy them. But,... I have to be within 30 feet of them. We would still have to lure them out towards this opening. OR, I would have go down far enough to get them in range. Hm." "Let's try YOUR plan first." Sterling says to Cole.
"What in the name of all that is holy were those things?" asks a shocked Bastion. "Not. Quite. Sure." Sterling admits deadpan. He continues ot peer down the hole, as if willing it to reveal it's secrets.
"I am not sure the undead would care much about the haunts. The flaming skulls were not far from the haunts." Kenzo says. Sterling nods, accepting the point.
Sterling shifts uncomfortably. "I suspect we will not find much up here. What monsters might normally use the ruins as shelter will likely be driven away by the haunts." The cleric turns his hooded gaze towards the hole. "Let us not waste time. The answers we, and professor, seek, lie deeper beneath the surface. Literally, in this case."
Sterling 'Hrmphs' to himself. Apparently not entirely pleased with the result of, whatever it was he was doing. The cleric straightens up, resettles his pack (still bristling with several covered items that appear to be weapons), and leans on his staff. Sterling seems content to wait and let the others finish their examinations of the area.
Kenzo collects his durable arrows. He shakes his head and says, "It seems that we can add undead to the list of threats that this place poses. Many terrible things must have occurred here to cause so many haunts and now undead to roam these halls." "Or one, very large, terrible thing." Sterling murmurs as he looks around the room. "I wonder which would be worse?""
Sterling tilts his head to one side as he surveys the skulls remains. "I'll add that to my list of 'How to Deal with Undead- Flying, Flaming Skulls'. Perhaps i'll add footnotes to the good doctors' works." The cleric glides over to take a closer look at the skulls.
The cleric sniffs, then turns to look around the room.
Sterling peers into the room, looks around at what's happening, and says, Loudly. "Those aren't haunts. They're Undead! Normal attacks won't work." At which point Ogre rushes forward, and splits one of the skulls in half with a single, mighty swing of his weapon. Sterling Shrugs.
** spoiler omitted ** Spoiler: Understood,
Not complaining, I mainly have been very busy at work (and having issues with son at home) :( so not paying as much attention as I would normally be.
;P Thank you info, full-round check good!
At the screams, Sterling immediately dashes after the others,...
Sterling shakes his hooded head slowly. "We waste our time dealing with these haunts individually. Not that we really have a choice. We need to figure out what happened here. Perhaps then we can dispel all the hauntings." The cleric murmurs to Teo. He follows the others cautiously. He stays far enough back to allow the brawnier members to deal with any immediate threats. But close enough to keep them within range of a healing burst if needed.
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