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(1) There are about 36 different barrows in this field. The "dragon's" barrow was to the north. This barrow (that Taern happened to fall into) is to the east.
(2) There were 4 adventurers who descended into the crypt below the "dragon's" barrow to confront Sethra. Neither those 4 nor Sethra were ever heard from or seen again. On the other hand, adventuring parties commonly have 4 members, so don't read too much into finding 4 skeletons here.
(3) It would seem unlikely that this barrow would have anything to do with the other. This field is basically an ancient graveyard from centuries ago that was forgotten about after a terrible plague devastated the Vilhon Reach in 75 DR (halving the population). There are many different stories in the various barrows.
*A little dissapointed, Taern looks around for treasure, then sighs*
Nothing much here. Just a bunch of dead guys. It wouldnt do to disturb their remains. Their spirits could come back to haunt us.
I am going to test myself against that stone block to the south.
*Shouldering her gear and whistling as the sunlight dapples the floor, Taern sets herself up and heaves against the stone block, tugging with all of her might*
OOC: I know there is no connection, but Taern isnt too bright, and the tales of dragon treasure got to her head.
"TAERN! You can't just go pulling random stones out of your way! Dragons are crafty creatures, if this is really the dragon's treasure hoard, it's probably guarded by something or a trap! Even if it's just a burial mound, there are probably guardians or traps so that the dead remain undisturbed! I have more experience with these things than you, at least let me make sure it's safe to go through!"
*If Taern hasn't triggered any traps or knocked the stone too askew, Fizahn goes up and carefully examines the stone.*
OOC: Search check to look for traps, if you didn't guess.
Taern, muscles straining, pulls at the iron ring on the southern "door" without success for nearly a minute.
When Fizahn rushes over, she steps aside to let Fizahn examine the stone. After a brief inspection, he concludes that the stone needs to be pushed, not pulled. :P
The doorway does not appear to be trapped.
OOC: [Fizahn's Search check: 12 (5 + 7)]. Graevic and Linda remain in the central chamber, which is illuminated from the hole in the ceiling. Taern and Fizahn are also there, standing next to the doorway to the south. Thokk and Elthan explore the dark chamber to the north.
*Chuckling good naturedly, Taern sets her shoulder against the block and shoves with all her might*
Heh, I shoulda known. People who build these places are always doing things like that. Putting a large iron ring on a block which is supposed to be pushed. Sneaky fellows.
*shaking her head and grinning, she continues to push*
As Taern pushes on the block, it seems to give slightly and there is an audible click.
The floor beneath Taern drops away and she falls into a dark pit. There is a loud splash, then the trapdoor swings back up and locks with another click.
Fizahn rolls off to the side when he hears the first click and narrowly escapes falling into the pit with Taern.
OOC: [Taern's Reflex save (DC 20): 15 (12 + 3); Fizahn's Reflex save (DC 20): 22 (15 + 7)] Taern falls in, but Fizahn escapes. [Taern's Swim check (DC 10): 7 (7 + 0)] Taern goes under immediately (perhaps she never really learned to swim well?).
*Taern struggles and splashes, trying her best to keep herself above water, her weighty gear pulling her down. She tries to unstrap her weighty greataxe and backpack, beginning to panic*
*Graevic has been standing back, idly watching his new companions, enjoying their eagerness to explore the barrow. He leans down and whispers to the badger, which bounds off, following Thokk and Elthan.*
[As Taern falls]
*Graevic's enjoyment ends as Taern slips through the trap door. He rushes up next to Fizahn, concern evident on his face*
"Can you open it?"
[If Fizahn can't open the trap door and he can get close to the block without standing on the trap door]
*Nodding to Fizahn, Graevic side-steps the trap door and prepares to push the block*
Fizahn tries in vain to trigger the trapdoor using his fingers. Desperate, he even tries to wedge the tip of his rapier into the cracks between the stones, but the trap does not reset.
Graevic crouches to the side of the doorway. Taern had just moved the stone block about half an inch. From the side, however, Graevic is not able to push the stone any farther.
Elthan rushes to the trap, holding some rope.
Taern's cries for help are muffled, but still strong.
OOC: Two rounds have elapsed. [Fizahn's Disable Device check (DC 20): 19 (12 + 7).]
*As Thokk and Elthan mess with the rope, Fizahn collects himself and goes back to the stone trying every possible way to open the trap at his leisure.*
Linda runs at the trap but lets those more experienced with traps handle the opening. Instead she holds on to the rope last of all in an attempt to help to the situation.
__________________ WARNING!!!
I am having major browser or connection issues. Thread subscriptions and prolonged manual searching are glitched, as are browser cookies. I ask my players to PM me links to the games I run so I can reliably find them till the problem is solved.
(must be a virus of some sort)
*Pushes door, and waits for trap door to open, then dives into the water*
OOC: Pushes door open and then jumps down, also taking a deep breath before jumping down, so he can hold his breath for 32 turns before starting the drowning checks
Fizahn continues to examine the trapdoor, intently trying to figure out a way to reset the trap. Meanwhile the rest of the party holds on to the rope attached to Thokk.
Thokk pushes against the stone block with all of his might and...
... nothing happens.
As mentioned before, Taern had moved the block about 1/2 an inch into the passageway. It moves no farther despite Thokk's best efforts. The trapdoor does not open.
OOC: Two more rounds elapse. (Total elapsed time: 8 rounds.) Fizahn's attempt to "take 20" will take 2 minutes (20 rounds).
"Thokk! You should stay up here and pull! You're one of our strongest! Without Taern pulling also, we'll probably never be able to pull you two up! I should go down, I weigh the least!"
*Pulls out his everburning torch, drops his backpack on the ground behind him, sheathes his rapier, and tries to switch with Thokk.*
OOC: 9 rounds have elapsed total. The block is back to its original location (flush with the wall). The trapdoor is still closed. Taern continues to hold her breath, struggling under the water.
Thokk and Fizahn switch places, and Fizahn pushes the block. Once again, it slides a half inch <click!>. The trapdoor drops open and Fizahn slides a foot or two downward until the rope snaps taut.
He is suspended 10 feet above a pool of water. Taern thrashes about desperately below him. Fizahn's body and the rope (being held by the rest of the party) prevents the re-closure of the trapdoor.
"Someone, QUICK! Jam something into the crack so it wont close at all. One the count of 3, let about 7 feet of slack go, and brace yourself for a pull when Taern graps Fizan"
Elthan jams two daggers into the crack, preventing the trapdoor from closing, then Fizahn is lowered down until he is just above the surface of the water. He reaches for her, but Taern continued to thrash around, panicked, and unwittingly threatens to pull Fizahn down into the water with her...
OOC: 15 rounds have elapsed. In order to successfully grab Taern (because she is panicking), Fizahn will have to grapple her. I'll need two d20 rolls from both Taern and Fizahn.
Taern is simply too strong for Fizahn. Instead of the gnome getting a hold of the wild elf, Taern grabs Fizahn and pulls him under the surface of the water, her strong arms wrapped around him in a crushing embrace...
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Re: Sarloc's Heir [IC]
