"It needs a decent yank?" - Garrosh moves forward, planting his feet solidly, and pulling hard.
"Couple good yanks should do it. I'm gonna finish checking the room", Tony turn and walks to the back half of the room to finish up.
Well, at least nothing came crashing down on us" - the half-orc grunts - "Seems like a way... In? Maybe we can follow it once we are done here - I'm still curious about those candles, but if we are done, I say it is time to move along"
Reynaud looks about.
Think we should at least check the sarcophagus. Wouldn't do to have a vampire or something pop out and be at our backs. Magnus, you move the fastest, so you and Tony check over there, if it's dangerous just pop back to us and down we go?
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"I appreciate the sentiment, but I'd rather risk a vampire at my back than the roof crashing down on me. It seems the lesser possibility to me. Something causes that roof to come down and the sarcophagus is the only thing we haven't opened. Seems to me the only choice before us is whether we continue or return. I still say it's too risky, but if everyone else is overruling me, it seems we will have to explore this tunnel."
"Ok, so let's pause right here shall we?" - Garrosh leans against a wall - "Magnus is adamant in not wanting to go further right now, so I think we should hear him out, right?" - the looks at the Arcanist - "Lay out for us - what is your plan?" - he inquires.
Tony sits on the sarcophagus as he waits to hear what Magnus has to say.
Well, I for one am torn at this point. I was only thinking that if there was something in their lair or the first room we should grab it before any looters. But now I'm thinking that we did due diligence and it makes sense to return at this point. I don't think any looters are going to get the scoop on us.
And we do have a body to bury before something unpleasant happens and carrying a dead body around with us in THIS place, well... And then there is Pill. I know its silly but I'm worried about him.
"Ok, so I agree your friend Tessai needs a decent burial, and away from here. It is the least we can do" - Garrosh nods - "But apart from that, I would like to hear the reasons to move back, and back where?" - he shrugs - "The nearest town has got to be at least a week away - that is why I ask, what is the plan? I am not saying I agree or disagree, I just want to understand what we are setting out to do"
Looking intently at each one of his companions, he drives the point further - "Say we double back, find a suitable place to put Tessai to rest, what would the next steps be?" - the half orc questions - "And we are really not even going to take a look at the inside of this sarcophagus? Heck, even these candles deserve a second look" - he chuckles.
"But... Who is Pill..?"
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Magnus shrugs.
"If we find a place to replenish our supplies - we have no water left - and bury Tessai that's nearer I am happy to move on without going as far as the town. My biggest fear is that we will end up trapped in here with nowhere to bury Tessai, then one of our team is continually tied up carrying her, much less loot can be acquired, and we will be continually hampered in combat. I think the sarcophagus is a draw to the foolish - it's what I would do. The candles will be just continual flame spells - if you want loot, they're worth something. Oh, and Pill is Belles mule that was left outside when the ghouls came. You can imagine the fate of that poor creature."
"I don't suppose you are any good at tracking, are you Garosh? Pill, may have survived, Magnus! The ghouls were not interested in Pill in the least and he is a smart Mule, even if his curiosity gets the better of him. As far as the ghouls are concerned, I'd be more worried about us - and Tessai. Speaking of them, I don't like that they are out there, probably watching us and waiting for a good moment to take us out. Regardless, I'm for burying Tessai and, at the very least, restocking with water. This room looks like a death trap, or perhaps a very tight seal that may just prevent us from leaving if we make one false step and go down that pit. If we do go down there and that ceiling closes down on us, we will have to find some other way out with no water and very little in the way of provision. Speaking of which, any of you have the ability to create water? I know I don't."
"I have been blessed with the ability to create water" - Garrosh offers - "So that is not an issue. As for the candles I can see in the dark, so if anyone needs them, just grab them - you guys keep talking about loot, so that would make sense, if they are worth some gold" - he adds.
"I am also half decent at tracking yes, so maybe I can help you find your mule" - the half orc again chuckles - "I say, drop Tessai's body outside, check the damned sarcophagus and clean up this mausoleum. With the door and the tunnel open we have means to get out of here if necessary" - he nods - "Once that is done, we place the stone back in place, and move out to bury your friend and look for the mule, though I'm not sure how well she'll navigate this place... Deal?"
From the looks of it, SOMETHING is going to trigger that ceiling to drop. Whether it be taking the candles or messing with the sarcophagus or descending in the hole, I am, if not certain, then concerned that if we mess with anything in this room the front doors will close and lock and the ceiling will descend. We will have no choice but to descend and find another way out. I would prefer to start that journey after a few tasks are dealt with, foremost that of burying Tessai, but also finding what happened to Pill. So, I think we are in agreement except that I am a little less optimistic about our ability to leave once we mess with the candles or tomb.
I saw you teleporting, Magnus. Could you take Tony with you? If the ceiling starts coming down as he checks for traps or picks locks, or whatever, you can just teleport him out. We can wait outside.
"Guys, let's just do this once and for all" - the half-orc seems to be losing his patience - "If you guys are looking for loot, it may be just inside the sarcophagus, right? If we just leave it here someone can just come and take it - I say again, check the candles and sarcophagus, put the stone back in place, then bail - deal?" - he insists.
"Magnus, what about Reynaud's suggestion?"
Belle sighs with exasperation.
"This place has shown itself to be arcanely sophisticated in a number of ways. There is no guarantee that a teleport will get anyone out once the trap is sprung. And even if it did, I doubt very much that Magnus wants to be on the outside with a fresh body while the rest of us are trapped inside and forced to descend. Please, let's just take one day to bury the dead and return. Just one day, OK? As a bonus, we can heal and recharge our spells before risking the trap."
"And we close the door in the meantime?"
"I think that would be a good idea. It will be interesting to see if the lock reappears and we have to hunt down the key again. Better to know on THAT side of the door what happens if it closes though."
"It is settled then I guess" - Garrosh nods, putting the heavy stone back in place.
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"It's not a teleport as you would understand it, it's more akin to stepping through a crack in the universe, so no I can't really take anyone with me. I think the sarcophagus is a red herring, designed to draw in the unwary. To be honest, I don't even think it's worth the risk of even attempting to open it better to just bypass it and move on. After we've buried Tessai, that is."
Very well. If it won't work I agree with you, Magnus. Let's find a place to bury Tessai.
Reynaud takes her up and heads back outside.
She's too tired of all the arguing to pay any attention.
Tony listened very intently to the conversation, and while the moral quandary of what to do with your dead is important, not dying is the priority.
"Alright, let's get some distance from here, find a nice safe haven for your dead friend", Tony heads off towards the entrance.
"Out we go" - Garrosh heads outside the mausoleum - "So, where did you last see that mule of yours?"
Better to meet them like this than after a battle.
Belle pauses to see if her companions leap into battle or attempt to talk, not caring much which choice is made.
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Quietly, Magnus says to the others,
"Let's not get surrounded like last time. I can cast illusions of a pit trap, a few of them should narrow down the avenues they can attack us through, perhaps with Belles glitterdust to bolster them. That way I can lay down my burning hands across the remaining avenue of attack while Garrosh and Reynaud protect it. Sounds good?"
If it comes to that, I agree. Narrow the field of attack.
Changed my mind. Start a Summon Monster II spell.
"Dammit"
Tony starts pulling flasks of Alchemist Fire and Acid from his bandolier.
"Any ideas?"
Onto the roof? Or keep them in the doorway. Let me and Garrosh hold the line while you lob spells and grenades over the top into the crowd climbing the stairs.
"Well, the door is closed now" - Garrosh grumbles, invoking a protective spell - "This isn't going to be pretty. If you have spells to pepper them for afar do it NOW" - he growls - "I can try to trip some of them as they approach, to thin the lines - just make sure we focus them down, or we'll be surrounded"
If I say blink an tap your shoulder, close your eyes for a moment. I may need to send out a blinding cone that includes your location if they crowd us, OK? I will mostly try to give you some space by summoning things in the way of the ghouls though.
OK, I can cast 1 image/round amd each image covers up to 5 x 10' cubes. I would suggest a 20'x20' pit, 1 on each side and 2 at the back giving us a 20' by 20' pocket in which to maneuver, but it will mean moving away from the mausoleum. We could use the mausoleum as a back wall, but I would argue that it is too easy to climb, and that is what the ghouls will do.
By the way, do we have any remove paralysis spells? if we do, we need to cast them on our front-liners. If we don't, front liners fight defensively - you can't afford to get hit - and let us take them out with spellsand ranged weapons.
If the front-liners stand 10' apart, they can get an AoO on anyone trying to get past them, plus I can fire burning hands between them without hurting them.
Does everyone agree with this plan?
Reynaud assumes a defensive stance and slaps his fist on his shield, bellowing.
We stand as She did in the face of beasts and evil! Break yourselves against us if you don't fear a second death!
Uh, Magus? Why did you make a pit over there? Won't they just go around it?
Agyen calmly assesses the situation, and notes that the ghouls are likely currently to far away to target. A somewhat familiar sensation of courage rises within everyone, pushing them to greater might against the undead.