Tyrant's Grasp: The Dead Roads [IC]

[DrK]

Helena looks at the scrolls the turns to the others, ”They are magical and could prove useful to us. Do you think the gods would figure us borrowing them? Have we sone other things we could leave in their place?” she asks the question looking at the others


Grum shrugs, ”this place be infested, better we use ‘em than a greasy mite wipes an arse wi’ them,”

[lostsole31]

"What are they?" asks Drake.

[DrK]

Helena looks at Drake and scoops them up, muttering one of the most basic cantrips learned to be able to read magical words as she tries to puzzle out what the scrolls would be. "I'm not sure Master Drake, give me a few moments" she responds as she examines them trying to figure them out

[lostsole31]

With that cantrip, of course, she takes out a a small loupe from her spell component pouch. Both parchments are scrolls of lesser restoration.

[DrK]

Helena looks at the scrolls then offers them to Grum. "I cannot use these Master Grum, but I do think they will prove useful." She kneels down and offers a deep prayer asking for forgiveness for taking the scrolls before she gave them to the dwarf.

Grum listens to what they are and then nods. "Bloor before rust eh lass?" he offers a genuflection to the shrine and tucks them into his belt pouch. "Hope we dinnae' need these. But best tae be safe eh?" he grins before pointing at the door to the SE. "All set now lads?" he adds speaking to Drake and Sal to see if they are ready to move on.

[lostsole31]

The rest of the group nod their readiness, but this time - since Grum didn't just burst through the portal, Camael comes forward. He looks the door over, and his quiet studiousness has the effect of drawing Grum in to a similar introspection, perhaps because in some ways Camael is like a forge dwarf inspecting a product before letting it go. Grum, perspicacious himself, realizes he is looking for danger endemic to the door, and lends his aid to the "angel of the Lord" (whatever that means). Finally, Camael nods to Grum and goes back to what is quickly becoming "his" position.

Grum opens the door, and with no immediate danger, steps in. A small, dry font juts from the south wall of this room, in the center of a mural depicting the interior of a chapel. On the west wall hangs a large square mirror with an ornate gold frame.

[DrK]

Grum steps through the door, "thanks laddie," to Camael, before gazing about the room taking in the font, mural and mirror. "Looks nowt here" he offers before squinting his eyes and searching for any signs of magical auras to make sure its safe before waving the others forward if they are curious to have a look.

[lostsole31]

By the simple act of squinting his eyes, he detects no magical auras.

As others come into the room for a quick search, even by actually casting detect magic instead of just squinting, they find they detect nothing as well ... which surely proves that squinting is equivalent to detect magic in such regards, amma right?

It only takes a minute to do a quick search in here. The mirror looks like it might be worth over a hundred gold, but being bulky and weighing 80 pounds, it would be poor form and inefficient to steal.

This font was a basin where visitors paying their respects to Roslar were expected to wash their hands and faces.

Nothing else of note in here.

[DrK]

Grum shakes his head ”Nowt relevant in here.” but moves aside if the others want to look about the small room. With the weight of mirror and the issues with where they were he has no plans to grab the mirror.

Helena glances in the loses interest as points to the end of the main room and the southern passage leading out. ”come on then.”

[lostsole31]

Grum, as east is the only way to begin to go from here, you'll have to make a decision to go north or south.

[DrK]

Grum nods at the suggestion of the southern route ”Aye lass, as good as any.” and he moves that way sword out and motes of light hovering above him

[lostsole31]

Grum only heads south 10' before then heading down a narrow (5' wide) passage to the east for 25', then north into a larger chamber. As soon as he steps into the northern chamber ...

Surprise Round ...

S25: Sal darts past Grum into the room. "Grum, each side!"

S22: Camael also moves past Grum, but not quite as far.

S18-3: Something touches Grum on the side of the neck from his right, and touches him on the hip from his left. There is a tingling effect that threatens to overwhelm his mind, but he easily fights it off in fine dwarven fashion.

Begin Round One ...

R1T25: "Hey! Celedons!" Sal tries getting their attention. "We let your kin Number Three stay alive. We're no threat to you. What gives?!"

R1T22: Camael holds for a response, but it is otherwise to meet violence.

R1T21: Helena, what do you do?

[DrK]

Helena hears the shouts and warnings about more Celedons and drops into a combat stance, the flames of her Solar Wind stance igniting the tip of the arrow, but she doesn't fire. Instead she calls out, "Hold, we mean no harm. We merely seek to exit this place. We spoke with number 3 and he bid us safe passage."

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Swift: Enter Stance of Piercing Rays
Full: Speak out loud

[lostsole31]

R1T21: Helena hears the shouts and warnings about more Celedons and drops into a combat stance, the flames of her Solar Wind stance igniting the tip of the arrow, but she doesn't fire. Instead she calls out, "Hold, we mean no harm. We merely seek to exit this place. We spoke with Number Three, and he bid us safe passage."

R1T19: Drake steps up behind Helena, but doesn't do anything else.

R1T18-17: Blue says simply, "We have our orders. Now, please stay dead like you're supposed to."

Blue reaches out to touch Grum's shoulder, and Sal shoots the robed skeleton in the left lower upper arm for 1, and Camael wildly misses Red with his mace. Blue touches Grum, who barely keeps his wits as his thoughts start to swim.

R1T16: Gwennid flies into the room, but not before both Celedon's strike them from each side - Blue striking their right upper leg for 1 mod, but Red puncturing their lung with its short sword for 6 mod. They land on the ground and cough, spitting up blood. The diadem they wear flashes at Blue for no effect. "H- help me. Somebody," they say with a wet, hacking cough.

R1T13: Grum, what do you do?

[DrK]

Grum glances at Gwen, a shout, ”I’ll hold these ones here. Get Gwen.” he calls out. Switching to a more defensive stance he swings hard at the eastern Celedon before stepping slightly to the north to avoid being flanked.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Risky strike Vs blue (1d20+8)[9] dam (2d6+10)[16]
Swift: switch to warding blade mode
* AoO counter: (1d20+7)[16] dam (2d6+10)[18] of needed
Free: 5ft step to NE to be between blue and Gwen

[lostsole31]

R1T13: Grum glances at Gwen, giving a shout, ”I’ll hold these ones here. Get Gwen!” Switching to a more defensive stance, he swings hard at the eastern Celedon before stepping slightly to the north to avoid being flanked.

R1T3: Red begins singing a song with words completely not understood by any of the heroes.

End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T21: Helena, what do you do?

Drake on deck, Blue in the hole ...

[DrK]

Helena looks sadly at Gwen, ”You poor thing…” as she lashes pigg to punching the buckler at the Celedon to the right (blue) with a hint of healing energy

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Enduring crane strike (1d20+7)[11] dam (1d3+1)[4]
If hit heal Gwen for (1d6+3)[9]

[lostsole31]

R2T21: Helena looks sadly at Gwen, ”You poor thing…” as she attempts to bash Blue, but fails to hit from around the corner.

R2T19: Drake darts into the room quickly without getting hit and spins around to strike Blue in the right hand with his machete for 11.

R2T18: Blue clashes blades with Drake.

R2T17.5: Sal takes out a potion and administers it to Gwennid for 5 healing.

R2T17: There is the sound of flapping wings, and suddenly Camael is on the other side of the room. He drops his mace and tends to Gwennid, causing her to cough violently to expel fluid. "Her lung was punctured, but I have helped her that she will not drown. Quick thinking with the potion, Sal."

R2T16: Gwennid's diadem flashes again, this time at the other celedon, but nothing happens.

R2T13: Grum, what do you do?

Red on deck, Helena in the hole ...

[DrK]

Grum looks at the Celedon, a shake of his head as he chops down hard seeking to distract the beast from Helena.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Swift: Enter Vigilant Keeper stance

Standard: Risky attack + Strike of the infinite protector (1d20+8)[13] dam (2d6+10)[21]
-- If hit grant Helena +2 AC

Counter if attacked : (1d20+7)[25] dam (2d6+10)[16]

[lostsole31]

R2T13: Grum looks at the Celedon, a shake of his head as he chops down hard seeking to distract the beast from Helena, striking Blue in the left upper arm for 21, with the blade continuing into its chest and it drops.

Spoiler: Inspiration

Show

Red Zephyr Strike.

R2T3: Red maintains its unknown song. It steps north and stabs out to slice Drake along the temple for 6.

End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T21: Helena, what do you do?

Drake on deck, Sal in the hole ...

[DrK]

Helena winces as the Celedon crumbles under Grum’s blade. ”We didn’t have to fight.” she adds as she rolls forwards to the space where the downed Celedon had been and fires at the moving one with an expert shot

Spoiler: OOC

Show

5ft step NE
Swift: horizon wind lancet
Standard: silver strike risky attack (1d20+6)[22] or (1d20+6)[22] for (1d8+4)[7] + (2d6)[3]

(Point blank shot is not included)

[lostsole31]

R3T21: Helena winces as the Celedon crumbles under Grum’s blade. ”We didn’t have to fight,” she adds as she rolls forwards to the space where the downed Celedon had been and fires at the moving one with an expert shot into its right shoulder for 10.

R3T19: Drake steps down to the corner and looks the monster over and then slashes right through its lower spine to cut it in half.

Combat Ends!

[DrK]

Helena stops and looks at the broken forms and shakes her head sadly. "I feel sad over this. They didn't have to fight us, why did they not listen?" she asks to no-one at large. Grum lowers the massive titan blade and nods to Drake and his machete. "Nicely done lad. But aye lass... twas a shame. Nae' need for them tae die.". Helena rests a hand on Grums shoulder before leaning down to check on Gwen.

"Are you okay Gwen? you took a nasty blow. Would you need some healing?"" she asks gently.

As Gwen is tended to Grum will have a look around the immediate area.

[lostsole31]

"I feel better after Camael," says Gwennid. "At least I won't drown in my own blood. How are you on healing magic? I don't want to take it if you need to be more careful with it. It's a light wound."

[DrK]

Helena shakes her head, ”I have all I need Gwen and it’s important we care for each other until we find out more where we are.” She kneels by Gwen and puts her hands on the wound releasing some power.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Spend 1 MP, and a 1st level spell for cure light wounds
(1d8+1)[2]

[lostsole31]

That is exactly what was needed to fully heal Gwennid.

A quick search turns up little. The statue depicts the paladin Roslar; while this would be the first image of the knight most visitors see, the should be well acquainted with Roslar’s appearance by this point. The plaque on the base beneath the statue reads, “Ervin Roslar: Paladin, Hero, Martyr.”

[DrK]

Grim and Helena both finish the search with the others before Grum nods at the door. ”Right lads, let’s go” he offers before pushing open the door and stepping through

Behind him Helena checks the bow and nods ”Lets hope we find answers soon.” she says to no one in particular

[lostsole31]

The landscape outside the tomb is bathed in grim moonlight. Dead trees adorn pale, rolling hills, each of which is covered with gravestones that march away to the dark horizon. The moon above is impossibly large and looks down upon you as a glowering skull.

Spoiler: Helena

Show

You recognize these surroundings as part of the Boneyard, the plane where souls who have died go to be judged and receive their eternal rewards.

[DrK]

Helena gasps as she steps outside, a hand clutching at where her holy symbol would normally be hanging. "In the inheritor's name it can't be" she utters. Reaching out she grasps Grum by the shoulder and points at the dusty washed out terrain and the gleaming smiling moon hanging above them. "We are in the Boneyards Grum, we are in her realm. We are Dead!" She says the last almost in a shout.

Grum looks around "Aye lass. Ye may be right and that be a wee bit of a bugger." He looks about stamping a foot and staring out at the graves. "This dinnae look like Torag's battleground yet and i feel pretty alive." he adds taking a deep breath. Looking about he looks back to the "outlanders." "Ye got any tricks to escape frae here?"

[lostsole31]

"Sal?!" asks Drake to his younger brother. "I'm pretty sure we'd know if we're dead, right? We haven't started becoming obsessed or insane or anything, like most ghosts."

Sal shakes his head. "No, this is different. This place seems to fit the description of some Eastern European lore regarding an ancient gathering place for the dead. It isn't too dissimilar from the Hebraic concept of 'Sheol' .... where the dead simply lie in wait until the end-times. I mean, it could be that? But, you're right. We've all acted pretty rationally, all things considered and minus the initial disorientation of unfamiliar surroundings."

"Yeah, besides," says Drake with a sense of triumph, "I've been dead before - briefly. At the point of death, every mortal soul is visited by a reaper to help them transition. Most forget that conversation if they are revived, but I remember mine. And what ain't we got? Reaper. Nope, we're alive, wherever we are."

Camael clears his throat and gestures to the east of the party, where everyone gives a startled jump to see a looming black skeleton wrapped in the wings of a giant black raven, a metallic jackal's mask looking balefully at you from where its skull should be. Without a gesture, a wickedly curved scythe appears in its elongated fingers. Perched awkwardly on its shoulders, a strange songbird stares with a glint of intellect in its empty eyes. A stylish plaster mask conceals its face, while two pairs of wings ruffle over its body's somber shades.

"Crap," mutters Drake. "Reapers."