Aude concentrates again
Channeling DC15
damage 6
This will also heal any hurt
It will be a full round action for Layjiani to recover her arrows from her pack
The wave of positive energy washes over the combatants dropping Avinars assailant and healing all those hurt for 6 points. The other 2 skeletons char slightly then turn to flee. Holgur strikes as they do smashing both to the ground in their component parts...(useful rolls for AoOs those weren't they)
Three Skeletons remain..one fleeing back to the mound the other two entangled
Recovering as the wave of healing washes over her, Eltariel hurls a bolt of fire after the fleeing skeleton.
"Avinar are you still able to fight?" I ask my oldest friend, concerned - that axe blow came within a hair's breadth of splitting him in two!
He should be allright , he didn't come near death even before Pharasma's respite
Avinar looks disgusted at the footman's mace in his hand, Piece of garbage Avinar muses, he puts the weapon away and unsheaths Mother's Kiss, he looks to Eltariel, "I should be better now"
Gashelle is over by the mound, and will charge the fleeing skeleton -- fleeing? aren't they supposed to be mindless??-- and attempt to put it to rest.
fleeing? aren't they supposed to be mindless
OK..how I'm going to do mounted overruns
I'll use the standard CMB procedure with the addition that a horse automatically does 4 hoof attacks on the opponent. Normally an opponent would get the option to avoid the overrun but anything running away will not be allowed that.
Eltariel is out of range for the bolt(which is only 30 feet..)
Gashelle spurs her horse into a long looping charge around the entangling grasses running down the skeleton and pounding it into bonemeal
Two Skeletons remain
Round 4
One skeleton pulls itself free of the grasses and rushes towards Aude failing to reach her and slashing wildly at Holgur(3 damamge from an unconfirmed crit..my dice luck continues in its usual vein[/ooc]
As noted above it takes Layjiani the entire round to retrieve her arrows
Aude is up.
With only two skeletons remaining , Aude delays her actions
As noted above it takes Layjiani the entire round to retrieve her arrows
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Avinar slashes at the skeleton with Mothers Kiss smashing some bone but failing to put it down (4 damage after DR)
Eltariel turns her hand of the acolyte on the remaining entangled undead hoping to take it down before it free's itself to her amazement the staff knocks it's head clean off(max damage critical)
Holgurs Warhammer crunches into the last foe collapsing it at his feet.(12 damage)
960XP each
Eltariel drops the entangle..Layjiani is able to recover the blunt iron arrow that missed
Gashelle examines the mound that disgorged them.
"I don't know about the rest of you, but I think taking a few minutes to investigate that mound may be time well spent," I pluck my staff out of the air as it returns to my hand. I look at my comrades, noting their various injuries.
"Aude, are you seriously hurt?"
I'm unhurt . I think Avinar is a little hurt and you just slightly .
Let's take a few moments to check on everybody before having a quick look in the mound .Gashelle , Layjani would you terribly mind keeping an eye on the mound while Eltariel and me do so ?
If it is more than one or two rooms , I would vote to not abandon our mundane responsabilities . We'll always be able to come back later to assume our spiritual ones.
....................
[After checking ]
Eltariel , I think we don't need to heal you before any exploration but do you have any healing spells for Avinar ready ? I must admit that most of my spells today are more adapted to travel than combat so it would make more sense for you to heal Avinar now
"Easily," I nod and gently touch my friend with a few murmured words. Instead of a surge of positive energy as Aude would use, Eltariel calls on the power in the earth itself and directs it to boosting Avinar's natural healing.
"I am unhurt thanks to your spellwork. I will accompany anyone searching the mound."
Let's try to adopt a marching order then .
I'd like to be in the middle
"I suggest Holgur and Gashelle up front, then Aude and I, Avinar and Lajiani to guard our backs."
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The doorway to the mound is framed by stone pillars and a heavy lintel. The passageway is narrow allowing only one of you to pass at a time. About 15 feet in there are two small empty chambers(10'x15') which probably held the skeletons you fought. The whole is lined with slabs of unworked stone
The only other room is a 20' foot square chamber inside of which you discover a raised platform about 8 feet square.
On the platform lie the skeletal remains of a huge man...nearly 7 feet tall with a longsword grasped in its hands. At the foot of the platform is a smaller,female, skeleton.
A slab of slate engraved in runic script is set behind the platform.
There is also a chest...rotting now but once finely crafted
"No-one touch anything yet ..."
Eltariel adjusts her senses to the arcane to sweep the room, then turns her full attention on the inscription ...
Eltariel
The sword detects as faintly Magical
The Runes are in two parts one in Skandik..a language you do not speak the other what appears to be a translation into common...as the runes are very similar to dwarvish you can make a stab at translation.
it reads
HERE BRODUR LIES... SLAIN IN TREACHERY AFTER GLORY IN BATTLE....MAY HIS BONES BE WARDED BY THE SPIRITS OF HIS ENEMIES.
"'HERE BRODUR LIES... SLAIN IN TREACHERY AFTER GLORY IN BATTLE....MAY HIS BONES BE WARDED BY THE SPIRITS OF HIS ENEMIES.'" I recite as the words become clear. "The first part is in Skandic, I'm afraid I can't read it though you may, Holgur. It would seem that the spirits of Brodur's foes got a little bored of waiting for people to protect him from."
Aude turns to Holgur with a nuance of disbelief in her voice
'Your people imprisons spirits to guard tombs ? '
After a pause
'Would we have a engineering specialist among us to determine whether it's safe to move onto the dais ? '
Aude turns to Holgur with a nuance of disbelief in her voice
'Your people imprisons spirits to guard tombs ? '
After a pause
'Would we have a engineering specialist among us to determine whether it's safe to move onto the dais ? '
"When a Skandik pledges his fealty to a lord it survives death. This is no imprisoning. These men likely fell together and were buried here together. If their spirits rise up again it is of their own will, not that of an outsider who imposed such a burden on them."
"Ah, but friend Holgur, these were his foes, not his vassals. Gnolls, I would guess them to be," I continue. "Perhaps using them this way was, from the Skandic point of view, preferable to the fate of their spirits otherwise? But I do not like it. Even the spirit of a gnoll demon-worshipper can better itself, given the right opportunity; to withhold such is not a thing that should be done lightly."
"Ah, but friend Holgur, these were his foes, not his vassals. Gnolls, I would guess them to be," I continue. "Perhaps using them this way was, from the Skandic point of view, preferable to the fate of their spirits otherwise? But I do not like it. Even the spirit of a gnoll demon-worshipper can better itself, given the right opportunity; to withhold such is not a thing that should be done lightly."
"Perhaps. But since we do not know the circumstances it does us little good to speculate now."
Saying nothing, Layjiani, being very familiar with tombs, simply puts a hand on Holgur's shoulder to stop him and proceeds to carefully scan everything in the room. (what is it now to search for traps and secret doors? Disable Device=+9 or Perception=+8 ?) She also takes a glance at the script to try and figure it out (Linguistics=+7)
The skandik inscription basically repeats the common one. The platform looks strudy enough..it's stone around packed earth.
The chest sits in the corner of the chamber.
Layjiani can find no traps extant..it must have been deemed sufficient for the guardians to protect Brodur
Finding nothing dangerous, Layjiani attempts to open the chest.
Avinar will walk the perimeter of the 20 x 20 room looking for any doors, or other oddities...
Layjiani opens the chest easily the ancient wood cracking apart as she works on the crude lock.
In the chest [worth 2 gp to an antiquarian] you find a cloak of heavy brown leather [50 gp] lined with wool, the collar and edges are trimmed in fox fur. It can be worn by almost any human, though it fits only middle-sized ones well.
Beside it is a well-crafted dagger [115 gp] with a deep green gem [spinel] in the pommel, housed in a brown leather sheath[2 gp].
There is a sleek highly polished wood box[teak or other expensive wood, 50 gp]. Inside you find, carefully packed, four crystal glasses decoratedwith silver vines [25 gp each].
Under those are two bolts of cloth, one fine yellow Skandik wool [10 yards, 20 gp] the other Karakian white silk [8 yards, 80 gp].
Set along the edge is a short green-glazed jar with a broad mouth, lid closed and sealed with wax [5 sp].It is half-filled with honey, mostly crystallized [1 pound, 2 sp]
A plate, larger than a man’s spread hand and apparently made of pure gold, lies on its side behind the jar. It is very thin and so also light [45 gp].
Also along the wooden bottom of the chest is an empty green-enameled bottle [2 gp], a toy dog carved of wood [cute but crude, 5 cp] and a sack of coins [26 gp, 74 sp, 119 cp].
There are no secret, hidden or concealed entrances to this chamber
"The grave goods of a wealthy man, a strong leader," I note. "Whatever we may think of his follower's tactics' to keep his grave safe, I am reluctant to plunder this place. What say you, Holgur? I do not know Skandic customs and ways so well."
Holgur looks on the skeleton and then at Eltariel.
"Either he has gone to glory in Valhalla or to rot in Niflheims icy wastes..wherever he has gone then the stuff he left behind is of no use to him. Odin helps those who help themselves and the Norns...fates you call them have brought us here. This treasure is ours by right of conquest" he pauses "but leave the dog..I do not think taking a man's childhood possessions is a tale for heroes do you?"
Eltariel nods her understanding.
"In that case, you may wish to avail yourselves of his sword, it's enchanted although I'll have to examine it closer to see how."
"It will be an honor to wield the sword of my fallen bretheren and continue their fight against dreadful foes."
"Holgar, that blade suits you well it is as if it was balanced for your strong frame". Avinar admires the steel and craftmanship on Holgar's weapon. "Destiny, I think Holgar smiles on you today, I think your forefather's would be happy the blade is in the hands it is in today".
In that case , just let me do a short ceremony to assure the shades of this warrior that there is no disrespect in us takin his grave goods .
Indeed , given that the mound is now open , I think he would be happier with us having them than any scavengers around here . Especially if his sword is used by a Skandik
Holgur removes the blade carefully from Brodurs hands and sets the dog in it's place.Eltariel will examine the blade more closely on the road and declare it to be a +1 weapon
Aude conducts her ceremony of appeasement and you gather up the grave goods and return to the wagons.
It is now extremely hot...temperatures are up in the nineties and those on armour are sweltering in the merciless light of a sun that beats down from a clear blue sky.Eltariel rigs up a sunshade from blankets and keeps the worst of the sun from herself, Aude and Avinar.
A strong wind blows throughout the afternoon(12 to 25mph)which helps to cool you(no fortitude checks required for heat)but you are glad to reach the end of the days trek and make camp in a shady copse of trees.
The night passes uneventfully giving the horses time to recover from their exertions.
Eltariel takes extra care of the animals that evening, ensuring there are no more that may go lame.
"I w- wonder how long these guardians have been attacking p- passing caravans."
"I didn't see any remains around the place where we halted ... perhaps no-one had paused long enough for them to register the presence of the living," I suggest as we prepare to leave our camp the next day.
Or worse still my sisters, there could be a greater menance new to the area that stired the restful dead, these foul winds may be an omen, lets keep our senses keen"
I hope not !
"Friend Holgar, these days are hot for wearing armour and while I doubt not you can endure them, can I offer you the use of a spell that will keep you a little, ah, fresher in the heat of the day?" Eltariel offers as tactfully as she can.
"Friend Holgar, these days are hot for wearing armour and while I doubt not you can endure them, can I offer you the use of a spell that will keep you a little, ah, fresher in the heat of the day?" Eltariel offers as tactfully as she can.
"Why I thought I would overcome our enemies by the virtue of my manly fragrance alone! Think of it. Bodies prone at our feet the few that are still conscious gasping for mercy...
"On second thought I will graefully accept your offer. While you companions can simply distance yourselves from me this poor horse cannot. And I will be very thankful not to pass out and fall from my saddle."
I laugh at Holgar's joke, "There are spells for that, too," I point out.
With a moments ritual, Eltariel shrouds Holgar in a haze of cool air ... while it will not protect him from serious damage should he be assaulted by fire or frost, it will moderate the natural extremes of heat and cold sufficiently to for him to be comfortable in the hot summer sun in his heavy armour.