|
Both doors lead to the same hallway which has another set of stairs leading down. Here the walls start to show signs of age with cracks all about them and dirt in small piles on the floor.
The stairs lead to a chamber with no exits and a large sarcophagus on a raised tier is the only thing in this long rectangular room.
Peredur follows the tracks to the stone coffin and Cyler immediately starts looking the area over. Taking his time to make sure nothing unexpected happens to anyone (especially him).
"'Twould appear to be as far as he came, by the tracks. Unless yon coffin is itself an exit?"
I don't like the looks of this place. Cyler, have you found anything?
"If I were a stash of goods in a crypt, where would I hide them?"
|
|
"Looks like the professor burnt these locks too." Cyler says as he rummages around the lid.
"Oww!" Eva suddenly yells loudly. Turning quickly everyone sees a giant centipede with it's mandibles in the tall woman's leg.
Another creature emerges from a crack in the wall and snaps at Fleisher but his armor manages to protect him from the bite.
Random PCs to attack -
Fleisher
---
reroll
Eva
Attack Fleisher:
Attack Eva: dmg and need a FORT save for Eva DC 13
INIT:
Group
monsters
Notes:
Eva in melee
Fleisher in melee
Monsters have come out of the walls so no way to get around them to flank.
Jonas and Peredur can reach a monster and attack if they wish.
Look out! Jonas fires an arrow at the creature who bit Eva.
she cries out in a scaried voice
"Get it off, get it off,get it off, ..."
She attacks it in a scared fury.
Round 1:
Peredur closes with the one on Fleisher and attacks it, but misses.
|
|
The arrow goes wide breaking against the stone wall as Cyler moves up to help a dagger coming into his hand from know where.
As the bug dodges Peredur it sets itself up to take a blow from Fleisher the club smashing the back part of the creature, causing it to ooze out it's life pus.
Snapping away the creatures struggle to get a bite.
centipede:1 (01/05 HP) engaged in melee with Eva and Cyler
centipede:2 (03/05 HP) engaged in melee with Peredur and Fleisher
#1 att Eva -
#2 att Fleisher -
Cyler moves and draws weapon
Jonas fires another arrow, hoping to get the vermin this time around.
She still attacks it in a scared fury.
Round 2:
If the centipede on Fleisher is still alive, Peredur chops down on it with his longsword.
|
|
The lid slides open to reveal a shallow inside and no body to be found. Instead there are bundles of arrows, vials of holy water and potions, sunrods and a darkwood case.
"Jackpot!" the rogue says in mischievous glee as he picks up an old sheet of parchment that seems to be an inventory list.
12 silver arrows
4 sunrods
6 flasks of holy water
10 +1 arrows
5 +1 ghost touch arrows
2 +1 undead bane arrows
5 potions cure light wounds(1d8+1)
2 potions of lesser restoration
1 scroll detect undead
1 scroll protection from evil
2 scrolls hide from undead
4 haunt siphons (inside darkwood case with room for 6 more)
1 brass spirit planchette (inside darkwood case)
Nice job Cyler! Let's see what we have here...
I'd like to take:
4 silver arrows
1 sunrod
1 flasks of holy water
3 +1 arrows
2 +1 ghost touch arrows
1 +1 undead bane arrows
1 potions cure light wounds(1d8+1)
in a nagging tone
"This is Church property, and as such, we would require permission to use any of this or do you want to steal from a church."
|
Fleisher shrugs "Well, it's actually not... the Church didn't seem to know anything about the crypt being false, or that there were any tools that the Professor might have used down here. The ownership seems to be more on the Professor's end, so, by rights this would be Kendra's property. We should let Kendra know, then let Father Grimburrow know as courtesy about the zombies outside and about this being used as storage by the Professor. Maybe we should find out who the Church thinks is buried here."
Fleisher shrugs "Well, it's actually not... the Church didn't seem to know anything about the crypt being false, or that there were any tools that the Professor might have used down here. The ownership seems to be more on the Professor's end, so, by rights this would be Kendra's property. We should let Kendra know, then let Father Grimburrow know as courtesy about the zombies outside and about this being used as storage by the Professor. Maybe we should find out who the Church thinks is buried here."
She counters with reference to the journal
Eighteen Days Ago:
I see now just how ill prepared I was when I last set out for the Harrowstone. I am lucky to have returned at all. The ghosts, if indeed they were ghosts (for I did not find it prudent to investigate further) prevented me from transcribing the strange symbols I found etched along the foundation—hopefully on my next visit I will be more prepared. [Thankfully, the necessary tools to defend against spirits are already here in Ravengro. I know that the church of Pharasma used to store them in a false crypt in the Restlands at the intersection between Eversleep and the Black Path. I am not certain if the current clergy even know of what their predecessors have hidden down below. If my luck holds, I should be able to slip in and out with a few borrowed items.
"So you see it is Church property, not the Professor's property"
But I don't see neither the Professor nor the Church fighting evil spirit at the moment. If there's someone that is fighting vibe beasts that shouldn't be alive anymore, it's us. So I don't think the Church will mind a little defiling if it's for a good cause. I'd rather be an alive sinner than a dead saint at the moment.
in a calm tone
"The professor only took what was needed for the moment, not what he might need.
And not to mention the locals don't trust US, so we should take nothing from here, unless we NEED it.
Since it is church property in my Eyes, I will be reporting this finding to the church and a list of all it's contents."
I'll tell you what I need: some healing liquid and some arrows, 'cause those thing punched harder that I tought and my arrows are just scratching them. I'll repay the Church later with the possession I'm taking now if that makes you feel better.
Peredur shakes his head. "Eva has th' right of it. Church property, it is, e'en though they've forgotten it. Look you, Petros said he'd borrow items, not take them."
|
|
"Okay, true enough about the Professor saying he was going to borrow them, but I don't think he was spending time seeking guidance and permission for the use. The fact that old Grimburrow doesn't have the first clue as to it's existence doesn't speak well of the Church having a great grasp of what's going on here. A cult on their doorstep and the lurchers we put down on what should be hallowed ground only support that all the more.
I think we're all in agreement to let the Church know everything that was in here, and exactly whatever dangers we find. But I think Jonas is right. I'm taking a couple of things for research and aid. Our aid, and, by extension, Kendra and the town's. And I will tell Grimburrow with no deception at all.
My father was a Quartermaster... almost always, tools and weapons you have housed away from your access are tools and weapons for someone else. Will we have to fight our way through zombies every time we come back here? What if we're on our last legs?"
Grimacing unhappily, Peredur will carefully pack up all of the rest of the items, along with the list. "'Fore we disperse these things any further, is there anything on the list that isn't here? Anything Petros mebbe had with him when he went back t'Harrowstone?"
"So Fleisher, you and me are going to the church tomorrow and give a report to Father Grimburrow, I presume."
Peredur shakes his head. "No, Eva. We'll go to the Father soon's we're back up, t' give him his report *and* all I just packed away. 'Tis his to deal with, though he didn't know of it."
|
|
"I agree, Peredur. I told Grimburrow we would see him after he finished the evening services, and that I intend to do. You had not yet so usefully come into the knowledge of our little clutch, so you had no way of knowing. I promise you I have no deception or duplicity planned. My reasons for taking the material is expedience and understanding, not base pilfering."
Glad we sorted this out. I'm not lying: I won't keep anything hidden from Grimburrow or Kendra. I'll donate money to the Church as soon as I have any, but right now we need supplies. I'm sure the Church will be happier with a gold donation than with a bunch of arrows they probably didn't even know existed. Let's march on. Jonas will keep descending into the crypt and if there's nothing there, will head back outside, taking a good look around.
|
|
The crypt searched and nothing else found the group heads back out. Outside the sun has drifted down below the horizon and the sky has turned a majestic purple as the last rays of light still filter up towards it.
As a group they head back to town keeping on the side of the river the temple is on.
To identify the two special magical items will require casting identify and a Spellcraft checks.
Haunt Siphon DC 18
Spirit Plancheete DC 24
|
|
"I have studied on Meldenfold's Tinctures that expand the recall and insight... quite useful in research! But, I will have to wait until tomorrow to plumb the heritage and scope of these items. I have used all of my extracts today and have no more energies to infuse into them."
Fleisher will head back to the church to see Father Grimburrow.
Peredur will accompany Fleisher to the temple.
I pray that tonight's undead was a one time phenomena here.
Jonas won't go to the temple, but rather back to Kendra to see if she's alright.
|
|
The church is on the way to the Lorrimor house from the Restlands so bidding Jonas goodbye the rest of the party enters the quiet nearly empty church. A few acolytes walk among the pews lighting candles.
They find Father Grimburrow at the altar his back to them. Without turning he says looking up at the image of Pharasma carved into the wall, "And did you find what you were seeking?"
_______________________________________________
At the Lorrimor house Jonas finds Kendra has taken to her chambers for the night and Rapheal sitting up waiting for the group to return.
"Where are the others?" he asks worriedly.
Well met Kendra. The others are fine. We went into the crypt to find clues on what's your father was investigating, but what we get was giant vermins and undeads. I came here to see if you were right. The others are with father Grimburrow. I can accompany you there if you want, otherwise I'll stay here and rest: I have a minor wound, nothing that I can't sleep off.
she replies to Father Grimburrow
"We did, the false crypt is real.
And it contained a good sum of items."
she lists the contents as they were before any were removed
12 silver arrows
4 sunrods
6 flasks of holy water
10 +1 arrows
5 +1 ghost touch arrows
2 +1 undead bane arrows
5 potions cure light wounds(1d8+1)
2 potions of lesser restoration
1 scroll detect undead
1 scroll protection from evil
2 scrolls hide from undead
4 haunt siphons (inside darkwood case with room for 6 more)
1 brass spirit planchette (inside darkwood case)
and the contents that were removed
4 silver arrows
1 sunrod
1 flasks of holy water
3 +1 arrows
2 +1 ghost touch arrows
1 +1 undead bane arrows
1 potions cure light wounds(1d8+1)
1 brass spirit planchette (inside darkwood case)
1 haunt siphon
"But on our way there we encountered, some of the dead rising from their graves."
|
|
"Yes, as we were walking to the crypt, zombies rose from marked graves along the path, inside the bounds of the cemetery. We put them down, and left them alongside their graves as best we could for whatever reinterrment you see fit. Jonas and I took some of the items for research and use against this threat that the Professor was looking into at the time of his death. In addition to the list that Eva gave you, I also took 1 healing potion and 2 flasks of holy water. I hope to soon be able to stabilize my potions with enough energy that I can give the infusion to my compatriots and I would like to use a small sample of this potion for comparison. But honestly, the haunt siphon and the planchette are the items I was hoping to examine most closely."
Peredur produces a couple of sacks of items. "Here is everything else from th' crypt...Petros apparently believed you knew naught of it, but as it was temple property I thought it best not t'leave it in an unsecured vault."
|
|
At the Temple
Father Grimburrow looks shocked when he hears about the dead walking at the Restlands. He quickly gathers an acolyte and tells him to go to the homes of the gravediggers in Ravengro, with instructions to meet him at the cemetery.
As the group let's him know about the items he gathers a few things of his own from behind the altar. Soon he has two acolytes laden with full sacks heading out the doors before him and the group in tow.
Turning before departing he says to you, "I need to take care of this before the morning. The townsfolk. Please they must not hear of this just yet. Whatever was in that crypt take as a reward for your bringing this to my attention. And I will be by in a few days to get a more complete telling of your tale."
With that he hurries on, leaving you a bit bewildered.
Reward: items and +1 Trust
_____________________________________________________
The Loorimor House
Rapheal nods taking the news in. He reports that it has been quiet here at the Lorrimor home the only visitors were a few people applying for jobs to help out Kendra.
"Seems since it isn't just her and her father here, Kendra wanted to hire on a couple extra maids and cooks." Rapheal says with a smile.
Jonas will sleep his wounds off, and get up early the morning after.
Alright, people. What to do next? We didn't have much luck with the crypt I'm afraid. Shall we try the prison now?
"The Prison is a mystery, and looking at the Professor's notes could have been the source that awoke the dead in the Restlands."