The Crusade Against the Shade [IC] (GROUP 1)

[Regord_Silentflame]

The stone around you turns to worked stone, and more support pillars appear more often. Although none of them are light, there are many empty lanterns hanging on the walls. After a hundred feet or more, you finally come across a barrier. It's a wall made of polished stone, with an iron door in the middle.

[Another_Poet]

Plumm will go through his usual routine: listen, and if no noise search for traps, and if no traps open.

listen - (1d20+4)[13]
search - (1d20+1)[2]

[MountainKing]

"Hmmm... probably couldn't push this open with my bow..." muttered Robilard as he joined Plumm in examining the door.

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Well, I'll take 20 on my Search check for traps... if I remember right, I can search for traps up to DC 20 without being a rogue, so...

[Regord_Silentflame]

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You cannot hear anything through the door, in fact, the normal shuffling and moaning of undead has died down substantially.

The door is not trapped, but as you try to open it, it doesn't budge

[MountainKing]

OOC: Is there a visible lock or hinges?

[Regord_Silentflame]

There is a visible lock, but no hinges

[Another_Poet]

"I could try to rush it, but it might not be pretty. Or quiet."

[MountainKing]

"Alternatively, I could attempt to sunder the lock's mechanisms with my magics... what do you think?"

[Another_Poet]

"Sure!" The gnome's chipper attitude would seem unsound, if it weren't so darn spirit-lifting.

[MountainKing]

"Alright then... take a few steps back... and cover your ears!" Robilard said, grimacing as he concentrated on his spell. It was hard to cast it with just words; for some reason, it felt wrong to try and keep quiet. Muttering in Elven, the bard pointed to the lock on the door, attempting to blast it open.

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Casting Shatter on the lock!

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* post roll count doesn't match database

[Regord_Silentflame]

You aim your spell at the lock, and the metal shakes, and soon breaks, a few small fragments flying off at the walls, while most of the lock simply crumbles and falls to the ground, leaving a large chunk missing from the door where the lock used to be.

After a few moments, you can hear a low, quick drumming. The noise gets louder and louder, coming from behind you. After only a short time, you can hear the clanking of armor, and the drumming becomes footsteps. You turn around, and you see behind you a raving madman, face flushed with anger, and his eyes fierce and bloodshot. His armor clatters around him, and his giant sword swings from his back as he runs straight for you, screaming.

[MountainKing]

Robilard blanches with fright, throwing a hand in front of his face as he says quickly,

"Wait, stop! We are not your enemy!" If one to look closely, however, they could note that Robilard is peeking out of his fingers, eyes filled with the hope that his spell will take hold in this newcomer and stop him in his tracks.

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Oh crap, random lunatic, please tell me he's not immune to charm effects... speaking of which, that would be a Charm Person spell, if I may.

[Regord_Silentflame]

The man continues onwards, seemingly unperturbed. He closes the gap between you, and lunges at you, arms outstretched.

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roll a grapple check Robilard.

for my records.

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22

[MountainKing]

"Plumm! Help!"

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(1d20+4)[5]

[Regord_Silentflame]

He hurtles himself forward and his massive arms wrap around you like the arms of a bear. His embrace is enough to potentially crack a rib or two of any lesser man. His face is buried into your shoulder and it becomes very apparent that he smells very heavily of alcohol. He speaks, but says nothing at all intelligible, but you get a sense he speaks not but of his great affection for you.

[MountainKing]

'Help Plumm! Help, he's... drunk?" Robilard suddenly sounded rather confused, and really, rather relieved. Patting the big man on the back he said.

"Well met, friend... what is your name, and... what on earth are you doing here?"

[Krimm_Blackleaf]

He holds himself up, swaying just a little bit and keeping both his hands on the new man's shoulders, his eyes a bit glassy. He blinks a lot and looks at him. "'M Argus... Argus Steele. An' your my best friend!" He throws his arms around you again and pulls him off the ground. "My other frens're here too! They're behind me some way." Now that he's standing strait up, the symbol of Heironeous is apparent on the holy symbol about his neck.

[MountainKing]

Robilard adjusts his tunic and gear a little, now that he's no longer in the crushing grip of this man.

"Well Agrus, it's a pleasure to meet you. My name's Robilard Dunland, and this is Master Plumm," he said, gesturing the the paladin, "Have you also come to put an end to the undead scourge that seem to originate in this tomb?"

[Krimm_Blackleaf]

He stands up even more strait, if possible and speaks in a noble(though somewhat slurred) tone, "The enemies of the Archpaladin must be stopped at every turn!" He puts his hand on the hilt of the sword on his back, "They shall meet the punishment of my Blessed Agony!"


*Wobble*Krimm, to keep track of this thread.

[MountainKing]

"Steady friend, if you stand any straighter, I think you may fall down!" Robilard said with a chuckle, "Well, who are your friends then, Agrus? They... must be very far behind you indeed..."

[Another_Poet]

Plumm

Apology:

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Sorry, I've been ill. I'm back now. I'll try to come up with an IC reason for my lapse...

Plumm started to level his lance as the footsteps charged down the hall, but then he paused. His keen gnome nose picked up the scent of alcohol, and as the maniac appeared he could sense not evil, but... goodwill. Affection, even? Before he could begin to explain, Robilard was tackled and Plumm was in gales of laughter.

"Greetings, Master Steele!" Worried that a similar hug could kill him, the gnome keeps aboard Gruffix and keeps his lance between him and the newcomer, albeit lowered toward the ground. "You're a paladin?"

((Plumm is a gnome paladin of freedom wearing Mongolian-style lamellar armour and a pointed helm. He rides a celestial sheep dog, Gruffix.))

[Krimm_Blackleaf]

"They were... right behind me..." He looks over his shoulder slightly in confusion, still wobbling. "I suppose they must be... fighting, maybe... no... I don't know, actually."
He turns to the new speaker, eyes wide. He then blinks and focuses as much as he can, "Oh, no no... I don't own a horse."

[anIceFan]

Vardin

Moving farther into the cave, Vardin pauses has he hears conversation.

Argus, is that you?

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This is probably my last post for a week. I will hopefully be back online next Friday, but I am not sure. Vardin will go along with the group and try and use spells to control that battlefield as opposed to direct attack.

[LatemYvaeh]

---- William ----

William rushes into the cave full tilt behind Argus and slightly behind Vardin a torch held high in his hand attempting to light the way for the group chasing after Argus. He skids to a halt looking about the cave for signs of trouble. Seeing none he turns and looks at Argus What's wrong with you don't you know better than to run off and leave your comrades?!? He pauses then calms down now that it is apparent that the disaster he feared had not come to pass. He looks at the two strangers and speaks again My appologies I don't know what got into my friend we heard thumping from the cave system and what ever the sound was it triggered a strange responce from Argus. I hope he did not injure or cause you distress. with that he gives a slight bow of appology to them. My name is William I am a cleric of Heironeous from the temple in Hirdam here at the King of Hirdam's request to investigate the Goblin's claim to these caves.

William stands at just over six feet tall he is wearing highly polished and well cared for full plate adorned with the holy symbol Herioneous He has a mace and a long sword hanging at his hip. He has a darkwood shield also emblazoned with the holdy symbol of Herioneous.

[MountainKing]

"Well thank the gods!" Robilard exclaimed, "Plumm and I had feared for a moment that we would have to combat the darkness alone. Welcome, gentlemen, to the Tomb of Morrak, Dwarven hero of old... we are here in hope to put an end to whatever sorcery exhumes the walking dead in legion and sets them to periodically roam the countrysides, putting a nearby town at risk..." Robilard pauses a moment, looking from one man to the next, and the next.

"...but if you are searching for caves claimed by goblins... I fear you are in the wrong place... nothing living could possibly dwell here, surely."

[anIceFan]

Vardin

Noticing that there are no screams or sounds of battle, Vardin moves up to join the rest of the group.

Vardin is an elf who is dressed in normal traveling clothes. He doesn't carry much more than a bag of holding and a darkwood quarterstaff.

Nice to meet you all.

[LatemYvaeh]

---- William ----

Ah there is the rub undead I despise them and will glad help you put them to their final rest. But here let me show you something. William pulls out the map obtained from the Goblin Leader Gerwin the red areas are what he is claiming as the traditional lands of the Goblins. With one exception this tomb. Now we worked with one of the Goblins as a guide and he confirmed except for this section the lands claimed were their traditional lands. But he was confused as to why they would claim this area as well. Good Sir, Master Gnome would either of you have any idea why they may be claiming it?

William waits and when the new comers are looking at the map he looks around quietly attempting to figure out what Riona is up to for he knows she is quiet enough to have remained hidden while the others rushed ahead but he doesn't want her lost in the cave system behind him.

Map for anyone that needs to look at it

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[MountainKing]

"Err, well sir, you said yourself, they're claiming all but one tomb..." Robilard looks a little... perplexed. He just explained what this place was, didn't he?

"This is the Tomb of Morrak, a place of honor defiled. The source of the roaming undead menace in this land is here, in this very place... no goblin would be stupid enough to freely dwell here." Robilard gives his lute a pat.

"I know of this place, but little more than a few stories that I've heard in distant lands... but nonetheless, if you're willing to help us put to rest this darkness, then we should go on."

It should be noted that, Robilard does not bother looking at the map. He's got more important matters to pay attention to... like the fact that these men are trying to start a conference inside an undeath infested tomb.

[LatemYvaeh]

----William----

Well good enough for now. What have you found so far and what types of undead have you encountered? And how are you planning to go about this cleansing? As he speaks William walks a slow circuit of the room getting his bearings and making sure he knows the way out from here. He also looks at but does not touch the damaged door. Is this what triggered the booming sound we heard outside if so we may want to move on before what ever it alerted comes to us in force?

[MountainKing]

"Well, in a way, yes it is," Robilard said with a frown, "The door was locked, and so... I ah, "unlocked" it. Not very subtle, no. However, we have encountered only skeletons, and some manner of frozen undead whom chill flesh and bones simply with their presence... and we don't actually know what's causing these undead to rise and walk, so... well," Robilard looked a little embarrassed, but unbowed.

"We sort of planned on figuring it out once we got to it."