Sturdy enters the cabin after Aldric and takes a look around the place for himself. He's especially interested in the mounted deer's head.
After his inspection Sturdy exits and stands watch motioning for the others to hurry up. Before leaving the cabin and returning to the tunnel, Sturdy motions for Aglaeca to come close to Sturdy as though he wants to whisper a secret in his ear.
Quinn remains outside and looks out into the forest, making sure no one is coming.
"Well THAT is certainly strange." Karn says as he looks about the unassuming room before sheathing his dagger and leaving the cabin to return to the tunnel.
Verjack puts the legal aspects out of his mind and turns to the task at hand, "Was there anything that would lead us to our quarry?"
Aglaeca steps close to Sturdy, to hear what the not so gentle giant has to say.
Sturdy leans in as though to whisper in Aglaeca's ear but instead plucks a long hair from the unknowing Tiefling's beard. "Sorry I had to do that if you had known then you may not have obliged." Sturdy places the hair in an inconspicuous place in the door jam shutting the door on it after everyone has exited. "This way if the hair has fallen we can tell if anyone has come or gone while we're clearing the tunnels."
In the cabin, you find a few papers and documents regarding more crates from grimmerzhul. Some of them describe large cages that are used to transfer large game, or lots of smaller creatures at once.
Nothing looks too off about the deer head, it is in fact real.
The hair stays perfect and in place, ready to alarm them to any passers-through.
Once the adventurers head into the tunnel they are greeted once again by many crates and a hand car.
Aldric takes a close look at the car. Does it look like it is pulled by humanoids, is there an animal harness, or does it appear to be propelled by some magical or mechanical means? Does it look like it has been used recently?
The cart in this room appears to be functioned by mechanical means, and when I say mechanical I mean a hand pumped lever that pushes the cart along the track.
As the adventurers of our story stand around the cave and inspect the carts, a faint screeching of metal can be heard in the distance. It sounds like it is approaching.
Aldric clutches his mace warily. He briefly considers dousing the torches, but realizes that plunging the room into utter darkness would be foolish. "Any quick ideas?" he whispers loudly enough for all to hear.
Aldric clutches his mace warily. He briefly considers dousing the torches, but realizes that plunging the room into utter darkness would be foolish. "Any quick ideas?" he whispers loudly enough for all to hear.
"Hide and hope they don't notice us."
The screeching grows louder, and it is obvious that the cart will be arriving very, very soon. To be honest, it sounds like perhaps the cart is moving unnaturally fast for such a mechanism.
Sturdy dives behind some crates.
Verjack gets behind his companions.
Aldric takes a place next to Sturdy at D7.
Aglaeca stands boldly at the middle of the little opening, holding no weapons, smiling, and saying loudly when the people get into sight,
"Bairwin sent me to meet you" [Bluff Check 21 ]
Aglaeca does his best to look nonthreatening and helpful.
Letting the tiefling take care of the bluffing, Karn wil quickly dive behind a barrel and once again, blend in with the cave wall as he quietly draws a dagger, ready to through in case Aglaeca needs help
Suddenly the air is filled with a foul, stench. The stench of something rotting. The screeching from the tunnels grows more and more loud, It is possibly an echo but the adventurers begin to detect that there could be at least two carts moving down the tunnel.
Suddenly the screeching from the tunnels becomes almost unbearable when around the corner you see two carts barreling out of control towards you and you can see that the cart has been loaded up with undead. The cart smashes into the idle cart and sends undead flying into the room, most of them instantly turn towards the living in front of them. Aglaeca in particular, who appears as a welcoming party.
Initiative: 1d20=9.
"Suffer the light of creation!"
Quinn moves closer and shoots a single arrow at a remaining zombie.
The burst of light instantly sears most of the mob of zombies coming down the tunnel.
Karn rushes forward through the dying zombies and stabs another of them with his dagger, making short work of him.
Quinn fires off a shot that moves just past the zombies as they fall and sticks one that is further back directly in the brain. He drops to the floor instantly.
Round 1
______________________
Aglaeca is up
Aldric
Zombies
Sturdy
___________
Round 2
___________
Verjack
Karn
Quinn
On the off chance that Aglaeca missed, or the zombie is still standing, Aldric shifts to E6 and sends a blast of radiant energy at the remaining zombie.
The tiefling quickly dispatches of the last zombie and the room grows still aside from the movement of the party.
Aldric examines the skeletons to see if there is anything unusual about them, or anything that identifies who animated them or what their purpose was.
Aldric
It is not apparent who animated these bodies.
Aglaeca says, "They must be aware that we have dispatched bairwin, making the most likely answer, baring magic, is that bairwin was supposed to send some kind of signal to whoever is on the other end of this track, and as a result of the absence of that signal, they have assumed the worst.
This means that the foe on the other end of the track is both in league with the cult and knows that we are coming, I propose we follow these tracks, perhaps even using one of these carts for most of the way if possible, and destroy whatever necromancy using cretins are on the far side. Who's with me.
"I agree. One of these carts should get us there quickly, I think. Let's see where this track leads"
"Very well, let us be on our way."
As you stare at the carts and track before you, you come to realize that there is some work to be done before you are on your way to whatever evil is on the other end of this tunnel.
Major Skills: Athletics, Thievery.
Minor Skills: Dungeoneering, Perception
Major Skills: Arcana, History.
Minor Skills: Acrobatics, Endurance
Major Skills: Streetwise, Nature.
Minor Skills: Athletics/Acrobatics, Perception
Before attempting to move any of the carts, Sturdy does a thorough inspection of each to devise the best way to maneuver them back onto the tracks. Preception Check, 1d20+7=27
Sturdy attempts to put the first cart back on the track using the knowledge he gained during inspection. Athletics Check, 1d20+11=13
Tier 1: Getting the carts back on the track;
Sturdy points out some key wheel locks and track alignment issues to help the group get things back on track so to speak.
Aglaeca takes note of Sturdy's advice and is able to open up the wheel locks so they can be properly placed on the track.
1 Success, 0 Failures
Verjack, being a creature of more academic persuits, abstains as the others work to fix the cart.
Aldric puts his modest knowledge of dungeons and contraptions to use to see if his knowledge can be of any assistance.
Aglaeca spoting the idle folks in the crowd starts giving out orders, preparing the group of people to attempt to right the cart, regardless of academic pursuits.
(that's 18 to athletics check to aid another. Can we get a bunch more people aiding, and then get sturdy or someone to make the main check...)
Recalling his past experiences, Quinn helps Karn realign the wheels onto the track.
Tier 1: Getting the carts back on the track;
Aldric assists Sturdy by showing him the best place to get leverage on the cart, While Aglaeca does his best to help with the lifting. The Goliath uses his strength to lift one side of the cart successfully back onto the track.
Quinn, standing with Karn notices something about the way the track locks the cart into place once it's in the right location.
2 Success, 0 Failures
Sturdy moves to the other side of the cart and attempts to put those wheels on the track.
Athletics Check, 1d20+11=16