lostsole31
  
 
     DRAMATIS PERSONAE     
     Character
[Player]
  
  Speech Color  
  AL
  
  Race [Ethnicity]
(Gender ID)
  
  Side #1
  
  Side #2
  
  Faith  
  Campaign Trait  
 
    Reserved
[NPC]
   
   Dark Orange 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 The Artisan 
 
    Reserved
[NPC]
   
   Saddle Brown
   
  
  
  
  
  
 The Outsider 
 
    Grum Kangredden
[DrK]
 
  
   Green 
  
 N 
 Dwarf (m) 
 Kheshig 3 
 Warpriest 3
[Warpath Follower] 
 Gorum 
 The Lawgiver 
 
    Reserved
[NPC]   
   Golden Rod   
  
  
  
  
  
 The Optimist 
 
    Helena Varvatos
[DrK]
   
   Blue 
  
 LG 
 Human [Taldan] (f) 
 Arcanist 3
[White Mage] 
 Warder 3
[Hawkguard] 
 Iomedae 
 The Word 
 
    Reserved
[NPC]
   
   Gray
   
  
  
  
  
  
 The Snoop 
 
  
lostsole31
  
 
 Helena  (only, at this time) ... All is darkness and cold stone. Although you dimly recall going to sleep last night in the small community of Roslar’s Coffer, you awaken in a dark, stone box only a few inches larger than you in each direction. The cool scent of earth surrounds you.

What do you do?
DrK
 Helena 

Helena opens her eyes, the cold stone and darkness sending a jolt of fear rushing through her. She reached out hands scrabbling and pushing to see how much space was around her and what she had ta her waist or clothes. Breathing she remembered her training, a quiet...   "Helen, come on now, you are a Varvatos.. hat would your cousin do."   The sound of her own voice helping her slightly. Then she moved her hands checking to see if her spell pouch was at her waist and looking for that small bit of dead firefly she always kept in there


Finding it she crushes the dead firefly and touches the pouch itself and the soft cool light spreads out to illuminate wherever she was....


 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Search the area with hands
Then cast  light  on her belt pouch
 
lostsole31
Not counting the hard stone below her, she feels in all directions, bumping her elbow and fingers clumsily at times. She finds that the areas above her and to her right are a hard stone, but her bow and quiver and set beside her, as are some things down by her feet that she doesn't really have room to check.

She intones her light spell, which is not a quiet act, made all the more noisy with the stone barrier echoing and reverberating sound all about her, but a soft white radiance surrounds her and her fears are realized ... she seems to have been buried alive!
DrK
 Helena 

Helena looks around the stone coffin and screams!   ”Help, help, anyone there!!”    she cries out loudly before bracing her feet and hands against the top and pushing hard

 
 Spoiler: Str check 


If needed a Str check to break free
- (1d20+1)[ 13 ] 
 
lostsole31
Meanwhile,  Grum  ..... All is darkness and cold stone. Although you dimly recall going to sleep  last night in the small community of Roslar’s Coffer, you awaken in a  dark, stone box only a few inches larger than you in each direction. The  cool scent of earth surrounds you. Your eyes quickly adjust to the darkness and within seconds you realize you've been buried in a stone sarcophagus, and some of your equipment lies about you, though your pack is very light and deflated, though likely would not have fit in here with you had it been full.

What do you do?
DrK
 Grum 

Grum looks about himself, rattling off the sides of the Earthen coffin. He snarls,   "Gah, get me out o'here. Who did trap me in here."   he bellows the last and throws himself against the lid above him smashing it repeatedly.

 
 Spoiler: Str checks if needed 

 (1d20+4)[ 19 ] 
 (1d20+4)[ 5 ] 
 (1d20+4)[ 15 ] 
 


if nothing happens he'll pause and look around the stony walls more carefully to see if he can see what may have been the source of these things

 
 Spoiler: Stonmeasonary 

Craft (stonemasonary) if applicable  (1d20+6)[ 22 ] 
 
lostsole31
Since he went RIGHT to lifting the lid, he did a find job. He doesn't throw it off ... it is much to heavy for that, but he does a good job of finding the proper angle and leverage and sliding the lid well to the side. He lifts his head above the level of the lid to look around the room.  It is a dark room which dismays him little. There are five other sarcophagi in this room.  Other than them, the only furnishing is a dusty old crate - likely a remainder from this place's construction. Various relief carvings on the north wall display several heroic figures. In Taldane, the words “Red Shrikes–Noble Companions in the War against Evil. Rest Well, My Friends” are inscribed above the carvings. There is a single stone door to one direction.

There is rustling around in several of the other sarcophagi.

 Grum , what do you do?
DrK
 Grum 

Grum leaps out, dropping heavily to the ground and trying to draw forth his essentia to cloak himself in steel and plate (and summon a massive blade taller than he). As he seeks his essentia he'll scan the room carefully, and look at the nearest Sarcophagi a grunted   "Anyone be in there? Where is this place"  
 
 Spoiler: Spoiler 

If he can he will manifest all his currently selected Veils and place 1E in each of the major veils
 
lostsole31
He finds that he slept too long and too well, and his veils have unshaped.

About the time that he calls out, four others of the sarcophagi lids move to the side, including after hearing what might have been voices shouting from inside. There is a human woman, and three human men. The human woman has a spell on something (what does Helena have light cast upon?), and two of the three men have these very small, thin cards or boxes that shed a small square of light in a specific direction. There is only one sarcophagus unopened.

The cones of light look at each other and around the room, briefly look at the woman, and then settle on the dwarf standing in the middle of the room.

One of the men with the light boxes says,   "Buddy, you better have a really good reason why a damn midget roofied all of us. Should've tied us up. Even the girl moved her lid."  

Grum, you get the distinct feeling he is talking to you.

Helena, you are active now, too.
DrK
Grum hisses a curse under his breath at the lack of veils feeling almost naked without them. He grabs the warhammer from his waist loop instead and looks at the men,   "You'll be in bother laddies for drugging me and dumping me in a damned stone coffin."   Looking around he eyes the woman and the men warily.   "Where do we be? How did you get me in the stone box..."  

——-

Helena crawls out as the edge of the stone lid shifts and she can squeeze out. Looking around at the strangers, some men and a short squat dwarf in the light shining from her waist pouch she freezes and crouches atop the lid of the coffin. She looks about at the paintings and the words.   "I do not now where we are , but I suspect that we have all fallen victim to the same issue. Have any of you ever heard of the shrikes?"   she asks, racking her brains to see if it was familiar.

Her other hand stays below the level of the rim clutching her bow, just in case there was a need for it as she was aware she was in a dark room in a strange place full of strange men.
lostsole31
Her voice is completely run over as the three men jump to their feet (in the sarcophagus).

The short-haired one that spoke quickly pulls some type of oddly-shaped metal from behind his back. Come to think of it, his clothes are really odd. He points the device at Grum, and Grum notes that while not a particularly large object, there is some type of tube that is at the "business end." It doesn't at all look like a proper Alkenstar weapon, but it might be.

The other two men are shouting things like  "Whoa!" "Hey!" "Calm down, both of you!"  as they're trying to defuse the situation.

That first man shouts, with a gruff, 'tough guy voice,'   "I ain't buying it pal! You're out there with the hammer, you second-rate circus midget!"  
  "'Little person,'"   says the one to the far east, one who is least 'partially' dressed in familiar. He wears a properly styled, perhaps too-fancy coat, though underneath a shirt of strange fashion. He has a softer voice, though he is actually taller with broad shoulders (6'4"), and a shaggy head of dark brown hair.

That seems to confuse and derail the somewhat shorter (6'1") man whose aim goes off and he says,   "What!?"  
  "'Little person' .... 'midget' is like a slur, sort of the small person's 'N-word.' The politically correct term is 'little person' now."  

Then, doing just as well to continue to separate angry words with time, the third man who hasn't spoken and has been ignoring the ruckus speaks. He is smaller than the others, but still about average to slightly taller for man (5' 11"), but with everyone else except Grum he seems small. He wears truly odd clothing ... a strange coat that simply hangs limply down. Stranger clothes underneath, and a blue cravat of some type that has little skill in keeping the neck warm as it is tied to a small knot in front an hangs down in a skinny strip of cloth. His hair is very mussed, and his voice only seems deeper than the others, but he has a sort of laconic quality about it, almost completely skimming along vocal fry.  He looks at the wall behind him (to the north) and says as he steps down,   "Uh, guys? Take a look at everyone here, and take a look at the plaques above each sarcophagus that had you in it."  

Helena was ignored and run over verbally in the beginning.
Grum, do you allow the natural flow of events to abate hostility with "shiny objects?"
DrK
Helena sits on the edge of the coffin now, her thin and pretty features in an amused smile at the men arguing. She nods at smallest of the men and points at the murals.   ”More of interest perhaps? Do you know anything of where we are.”  

Even as she is speaking Grum eyes the man with the metal stick and clutches his hammer.   ”One more small joke I break your knees…”   Then stopping as if hearing Helena for the first time he looks around again.   “None of you know this place? Weee were you last you knew.”  

As he speaks Helena looks at the unopened coffin.   ”Shall we have a look in that one? I am Helena by the way. Apprentice cadre mage to the Knights of Ozem.”   She pauses expectantly for the others to speak
lostsole31
The men seem transfixed on the plaques at each of their sarcophagi as they step out of them.

  "Drake, that's .... that's you! I mean not you, but a close likeness."  

Starting from east to west...
 
 The easternmost is that of a shaggy-haired elven mage casting spells, but wearing garb holy to Sarenrae, and looking not terribly unlike the shaggy-haired man here. 
 The next is the one that Helena came from, and is a bas relief of an Iomedaean archer elf. It's not an exact likeness, but she sees the connection. 
 Then the one Grum came out of, and that is of a half-orc ... but one whose bald head, beard, Gorumite trappings ...if ever human dared give breath to likeness, would see a distant one with Grum. 
 The man in the long beige coat's sarcophagus is a halfling on a mastiff with lance and shield, and somehow ... one can almost see his likeness in the halfling's face. 
 The second-to-last where the mouthy guy's sarcophagus is has a plaque overlooking that shows a man with two short swords, no religious trappings, but a similarly heroic face. 
 Then, there's the sixth sarcophagus ... that is still closed. The relief above appears to be some type of druid with features obscured, but a small creature ... possibly a gnome?  
 

The NPCs seem to have a hard time understanding Grum.  Shaggy Hair simply says,   "I think he's still feeling the effects of whatever drug dropped him. He may be, um ... vertically challenged ... but that's a lot of muscle mass. Probably overdid it."  

The short-haired man says, pointedly to Helena and ignoring Grum,   "I'm Drake Windchaser, and this my brother, Sal,"   he says, gesturing to the shaggy-haired man in the almost-fine coat, as if it looks like it was meant to be nice but is made of cheap materials.   "And that there is our friend...."   and here for some reason Drake pauses waiting for the third to name himself, even though their interaction says they know each other.

  "Joey. Joey Novicki,"   and while he has the personality of twice-vegemited burnt toast, there is a calmness about him that somehow makes him the most ... well, not personable ... but at least ... you don't know ... but something more effective than the other two in his simple presence.

One thing Helena notices about the brothers ... is that they are hot. They may not be charismatic, per se, but they are hot. Even the little guy (3" shorter than you, and that's not counting your heels) is cute.

There is a frantic, light pounding from the sixth sarcophagus.

All eyes slowly turn towards it.
DrK
Grum scowls at the brothers then adds in   ”I be Grum, or Constable Kangredden if ye be from Roslar’s Coffer.”    Glancing at the reliefs he rather tellingly avoids looking at the orc and heads to the sixth coffin.   “Give me a hand.”   he barks at Drake and Sal.

Grabbing the edge of the last one he gives it a heft to try and open it.
 
 Spoiler: Str check 

 (1d20+4)[ 21 ] 
 


As he is doing that Helena hops off the coffin and strides across to the box. A quiet   ”Is there some clues in here I wonder.”  
lostsole31
Sal lets Drake do the heavy lifting. Both Grum and Drake have to thong/holster their weapons to get a good purchase on the final sarcophagus lid but Grum's prodigious strength. Grum can tell, though that while not a physically "stacked," Drake possesses a powerfully muscled body on a lean frame himself.

The lid is moved aside fully and out pops a strange, small figure that startles both Grum and Drake. If it were on the ground it would be only a few inches shorter than Grum (4' 2") but with far less mass (not quite 50 lbs., considered Small). The little creature is covered head to toe in slats of wood and leaves and vines. It seems to have some type of leafy clothes covering another layer of vegetative clothing underneath the outer layer, and definitely some type of mask made of an oversized nut of some sort, and only glowing green eyes are visible to the face. It is definitely NOT a gnome, or if so, is some strange variant Grum has never seen before.

On the other hand, Helena DOES recognize what this creatures is, and that those are not tangled wooden sticks but actually ... once it would unfurl itself .. a type of fey creature known as a gathlain.
 
 Spoiler: gathlain 
1) Fey creature ... which means that they tend to be a little easier to take down (if you get past any resistance to mortal weapons it may have, usually as overcome by cold iron), and tends to have strong, alien mind and quick reflexes but bodies with exploitable weaknesses.

2) Despite their size, gathlain are as quick on the ground as a human, much faster than other Small creatures (similar to a goblin). But they can also fly a little faster than that, like an very athletic human, but the wood-and-vine nature of their wings make them clumsy flyers.

3) They often have powers related to nature. The most common ability is to make local vegetation to come alive and entrap, ensnare, and hinder pursuers on the ground.
 

Drake instantly pulls out his sidearm, but Sal says,   "Drake, wait!"  
  "For what? We're monster hunters. This thing's a frickin' monster. We put monsters down. What is there to discuss?"  
DrK
Helen stops investigating the box and turns,   ”Do not hurt it. It’s no monster, it is a Gathlian, a fey, a thing of nature not a monster. Do not scare it.”   she demands in a stern voice. The approaching she kneels down beside the fey.   “I am Helena. Like you I suspect we all are surprised at being here. What do you remember before you awoke here?”  

Grum on the other hand joins Drake in pulling free his hammer, a nod to the man as they both react in tye same way before he holds at Sal and Helena’s words.   You better no give any trouble.”   a warning to the strange fey as he waits for it to speak (assuming it can)
lostsole31
The creature speaks, which is unsettling since you don't see the mouth move, but with its hardened, oversized walnut-like shell "mask" there's only the slightest jaw movement. The voice of the creature is higher pitched, but the timbre doesn't lead one to believe necessarily male for female. The manner of their speech is definitely some type of rustic dialect. At the same time, once it seems that the initial fear is passed courtesy of the yellow-haired lady, the almost moss-like monobrow betrays a bit of expression, as if the gathlain is brightening. Sometimes it is a bit too thick to understand, with "th"'s sound like "t"'s, and the "d" sound proper or even some "t" sounds at the beginning or end of a word almost makes them sound drunk, as there is a slight "wetness" to it ... drifting to a nearly "J" sound.
  
 "M'name's Gwennid. Was planted a year or so near a little town that had nice farms abut it. We're dead, aren't we? Moi moind's still out whether dis is good or not. I feel foin, but there's all dis stone about. So I don't know if dis is meant to be moi type of 'bad place' or no. I'd'a hoped for more green tings. But we're all whole, aren't we? So it's toim fer us to be movin' to our next place, yeah?"  

Drake blinks, trying to slowly process what Leafy Green said.

  "Hey, you said something about a Razor's Coffin?"   asks Sal.
DrK
Helen smiles at the accent an words of the small green creature.   "Why would you think we are dead? I am here, i feel solid. I think it seems like someone has kidnapped us. Though to wat purpose I cannot say."   She glances at Sal,   "Roslar's Coffer. In Western Lastwall. Its a lovely town."   she adds happily smiling at Grum,   "We may have to explore. But I need some time prepare myself if that is okay"   she asks looking around.

Glancing at the box she nods,   "Shall we search the room and see what else may be here? I need to read my books though if that is okay?"  . If everyone agrees she'll settled down and flick through her spell book to prime her spells for the day. Once done (assuming she is undistrubed for it) she'll rub a  piece of lucky leather in her spell component pouch and a faint nimbus of force looking slightly a shimmering breastplate appears around her. A grin to the others   "Can't be too careful"   as she checks her arrows and the draw on the bow.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

If she can prepare her spells she'll use an Arcane point to boost CL by +2 and cast Mage armour to last for 5 hours
 


Grum nods to the small fey.  "Grum. Be good to meet you. You planted yourself aye? Strange you did end up here?"   He looks about and looks at his armour.   "Give me some time, I need to gather my thoughts, it'll be  a while he says"   before sitting atop his coffin and meditating. Concentrating on deep breaths and the comforting feel of the stone. If folk leave him he be to gather his thoughts he'll shape his veils.

 
 Spoiler: Veils 

Just as per  the ones on his sheet
 


Once shaped he'll take a deep breath and summon the mountain plate and then with a hand outstretched the hefty juggernaught blade.   "Old friend, aye, its been a while"   he adds as he looks to the others, now clad in steel and hefting the massive flint looking blade.   "Now I do be ready and the Iron Lord's wrath on the scum that put me here."  
lostsole31
For their part, when it seems that everyone is taking some time to themselves, the others do as well.

Joey Novicki meditates for half and hour, and then seems to pray. He holds a piece of wood in his hand, and it is a cruciform object that looks suspiciously like an Iomedean holy symbol.

Drake takes off his outer jacket and shirts until he has a short, black tunic that is somewhat form-fitting and only goes to the waist, where he has his strange blue-fabric pants, and engages in a good physical workout. After that, he takes out that device that he seems to favor as a weapon, and begins to break it down - disassembling it expertly. He has a pack, and part of that pack is a bag with strange little brushes and the like that he uses to clean out every component and spring that makes up this curious piece of engineering that seems to be even more precision-made than Grum - when he looks over - had ever thought possible with engineering.

Sal seems to look at some type of weird scrying device that is rectangular and from which there is a faint, strange sussurant mechanical noise. After awhile the scrying device - which seems to have its own light source - goes dark. Disappointed, muttering about "finding some place to plug in and maybe find a signal," he puts the weird box-like object back in his pack and just sits and goes through some breathing exercises.

Little Gwennid meditates for the hour, but on and off during that time seems to be quietly chanting and muttering and making various noises that sound like its attempting to pray or at least propitiate with some power or spirit.

As Drake finishes reassembling his item and everyone else seems to come to an organic end to their activities, the brothers take out chain shirts and put them on under their clothing. It's not mithral, and seem as cumbersome as any normal hauberk, though there is something ... not quite right ... about the strange manufacture. Drake straps on a leg holster to his left, where is affixed a machete in a sheath. Sal seems to have a bow, a quiver, and a knife.  Other than their strange leaf-outfit - which you've come to find out is a broader leaf outfit over much finer, leaf-and-grass-like skin - Gwennid seems ready. You can't read a facial expression, but if there is anyone who seems ready to tackle whatever comes your way and meet things with a hidden smile ... it seems like it would be Gwennid.

Obviously, Helena will have to utilize her  light  spell several times, even during quiet time (casting a cantrip that you intend to continue using doesn't foul preparations). As it was, within only a couple minutes of meeting everyone and being upset about having "no bars on my cell, either", the Windchasers had put away their little light boxes to "conserve battery."

Now at the end, Helena casts her spell, and it brings big eyes from everyone, with different expressions from each person.

  "You never said you were a witch,"   Drake says with equal parts admiration and ... worry?

Looking around the area, nobody is able to seem to make any inroads in memory to either "Red Shrikes" ... the strangely similar plaques ... or the construction here.

It takes some doing since the crate was nailed shut and nobody has the proper tools, but finally the crate is opened. The crate contains a variety of dried out and useless paints, a crowbar, flint and steel, three common lamps, two hammers, one hooded lantern, eight pints of oil, and a dented pewter mug.

Sal and Gwennid both sniff and look at the oil. Sal remarks,   "Wow. I'd say this stuff has been here for a very long time, but the oil hasn't degraded at all. It's fresh, not rancid. But the dust of centuries seems to be about this place. Not even synthetic oils are that good."  

Gwennid speaks up,   "Tat's because where we are, tings no longer die."  

All eyes slowly scan to them at this dire pronouncement.

  "No, I sense it, too,"   says Joey.   "When we were studying the planar rift that Lucy opened, it flashed, and that's what we last remembered. But to go to that other plane required a sacrifice or ritual we were still researching. My guess is that the thinness in the planes connected with other thin spots in dimensions .... something happened ... somewhere ... and it seems to flash through the multiple thing spots.

"Drake, Sal, you have to see it in this witch's magic and this dwarf's armor and magically-created weapon and so forth. It would take Earth casters far too much power to make that happen. And your electronic devices were fully powered when you prepped your go-bags for the expected ritual crossing. But already you're worried about dead battery and no real time passed since you last charged things and then used them now. And me? I feel it in my bones. I don't know where we are,"    he says, looking at Gwennid before looking back,    "but I know where we aren't."  

Sal nods solemnly.   "That means we're not in Kansas anymore."

   There's quiet, and Drake says,    "Wait, nobody is gonna' comment on the fact that Ca-, Joe called him a dwarf, and he didn't even get mad?"  
DrK
Helena snapped her head around at the word "witch" with a frown.   "I am no witch. I am a student of the War College in Vigil with training from the finest battle mages."   As she looks at them she looks more closely at the equipment and strange clothes and asks with a hint of trepidation.   "You spoke of a rift. Where are you from? You do not dress like those of Taldor or Cheliax? And you do not appear like one from Osirani. WHere are you from?"  

--

Grum happy now as he stamps his feet a little hears the talk of lights and motions with a hand as 2 motes of light, one blue and green float free from his hand slowly hover by Sal and Drake.   "If ye be needing light, here. Have a couple of these."   THen at the mutterings about the use of dwarf, he nods.   "Aye, I be of the Five Kingdoms clans, what of it."   His eyes also narrow and he nods to Helena as she starts to question where they are from. Grum nods and points to the strange mechanical thing Drake had been playing with.   "What does that be? I never seen its like before."  

--

As the men talk of guns Helena looks at Gwennid.   "What do you mean? It just seems to be a tomb? One that I am anxious to leave""  
lostsole31
At Helena's self-defense. Sal intervenes,   "Listen, what Joey said. It's obvious we're from somewhere not from where you come from. And given what the other two said, not where we come from, either. My brother can be a bonehead..."  
  "Hey!"  
  
"... but he wasn't trying to be reductionist. We're just ignorant. Joey said that magic is different where we come from. Practitioners of magic as a rule are called witches, but then individual traditions might be shamans, priests, enchanters, and the like. We've had a bad history, as pretty much anyone who's a witch invariably does bad things with their magic because it is so rare and the temptation so great, that we get called in. A witch in our home .... world? ... at the point that they are hurting people, even if they are human, are then categorized as 'monsters' ... and we hunt them. As long as you aren't trying to hurt people with your witchcra-, er, magic, then it's all good."  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
If you RP any level of influence from another's Diplomacy, he just rocked a modified  26  on his Diplomacy.
 

  "Listen, lady,"   says Drake as he is already putting a flask of oil into a lantern.   "None of those places mean anything to me. Which means if I tell you anything about where I'm from, none of that will mean anything to you. Let's just focus on figuring out how to get out of where we  are  so we can get home."  

Grum's  dancing light sseem to be playfully tickling at Drake's almost-cultivated handsome stubble. He blinks and blows at the lights and tries to wave them away.   "Stop. Stop it. Stop that! You're dazzling my eyes and I can't see what I'm doing. I'll end up setting myself on fire.  
  "Crap,"   he says, having taken out folded square of parchment colored black with the silhouette of a very well-endowed woman on the cover, which he then blithely discards on the ground.   "Out of matches. This fire starter kit we found will have to do."    As he uses the flint &amp; steel to light the wick, providing a little more of a sense of 'warmth' with the glow of the oil lamp - even though it is psychological - it still affects everyone on a primal level with a bit of comfort that magical, twinkling lights and weird lights from little boxes don't do.
   
"This here is a Colt M1911A1 semi-automatic pistol. It was my dad's gun. Taught us all we know about hunting. We were following a lead on finding him, and through a series of drunken misadventures and silly accidents ... everything led up to us staring at a rift in space, a portal to a sort of monochromatic hell dimension for our next clue. And now we're here."  

Sal says comfortingly.   "I think you may need to lead with your machete, and let me cover with the bow. I have a feeling we're not going to find a Guns 'R Us top top off ammo."  

Drake shakes his head.   "You and Fred went LARPing in that  ridiculous  coat with those silly pants and boots with that Wal-Mart 'Junior Hunter's Archery Kit' ... and now  you're  the one who almost looks like he makes sense here, and that cheap bow is now our main defense while I conserve bullets? Damn. And here I swore I had extra ammo in my pack."  
  "Yeah, well, I notice a lot of stuff isn't in my pack that was there before, too."  

Finally, with Grum's question to Gwennid, they say,   "I can touch ta world, or more like, the world's can touch me. Each day as I meditate and give my thoughts to Ng, I can reach across the vastnesses to let those places act through me. I didn't have to reach far for the Underworld, for its power is all about us."  
DrK
Helena looks at Sal,  ”I fear you are a long way from home. Once we get out of here if we go to Vigil some of the masters there may be able to help you find your way home. But maybe don’t call the Master of the War College a witch.”   She adds the last with a wry smile, clearly making a joke.  At Drake’s harsher language she looks sadly at him,   “It’s okay to be nervous, magic can be scary but I swear by the Inheiritor I will not harm you here as long as you prove good and trustworthy.”  

She is interrupted by Grum who looks at the torch flaring to life as he nods to the crate.   ”eh longshanks. Me and Helena can make our own lights, you’d beat bring your the lamps and oil.”  

He stomps towards the door out of the room.   “no more answers here so let’s be off and see where we be.”   He walks to the door, still eyeing the Colt and with massive blade in hand opens the door.

 
 Spoiler: Essentia 


Grum will move essentia before opening the door
1E Juggernaught Blade
1E Plate of the mountain
1E Lions Heart
1E Stone Giants Girdle

1E Chakra power feat
 
lostsole31
Drake holds the lit hooded lantern in one hand, and then ends up giving it to Joey to hold. He and Sal divvied the tools. Gwennid took the dented pewter mug. Joey didn't take anything. Two of the common lamps are being left behind.

As Grum puts energy into each veil, they all become visible, and now everyone clearly sees not only the armor and sword (assuming he made them visible before), but also a thick belt of stone and a lion-hide mantle of some sort.

 Begin Round One ... 
 R1T32:  Grum  barely opened the door and already Sal is already moving, getting right  next to Helena while drawing what is nothing more than a simple  shortbow and shoots. With the narrow angle and doorway and people in the  way, it is an expected miss, especially as he drew a little deeper,  likely hoping for a more powerful connecting shot. While it is obvious  to Helena that he doesn't nearly have the same level of archery  training, she can respect from his stance and training that he knows how  to handle himself in a CQB firefight. 
 Spoiler: OOC 
His combat instincts  aren't as developed as hers (BAB), but his training shows (Precise  Shot).
 
He calls out,   "The  skeleton's just a vehicle, not an undead. It's a chariot for an  ostovite, but you have to beat down the skeleton first, preferably with  something designed to break bones."  
 R1T22:   It seems nearly an eternity passes before something glows and appears  around Gwennid. A perfectly-fitted suit of chainmail with leaf-motif  (not leitmotif, mind you, even though the leaf motif is a leitmotif)  forms around her even as a glowing shortspear made of green light  appears in her hand. There's even a jeweled crown that fits around the  leafy helmet she seems to wear. She zooms right out the door and then  throws her spear. But the spear isn't "thrown so much as it turns into  green light and a ray of green light shoots forward from her hand to go  through the thing and strike the wall behind. The thing takes   10 light damage  .

 R1T20:   That got its attention. The skeleton claws at Gwennid - completely  missing the first time, and then bony nails barely scraping along the  strange, magical chain she wears on the second.

 R1T19:   Helena , what do you do?
DrK
Helena spies the beast and instinctively brings up the bow. Silvery fire bursts from her hands and the bow as she takes aim before she steps back for a better angle and let’s fly…


 
 Spoiler: OOC 


5ft step NE to get a better angle
Swift:enter stance of piercing rays
Standard: Fire at the ostovite  (using risky attack)
 (1d20+7)[ 20 ]  dam  (1d8+5)[ 6 ]  +  (1d6)[ 2 ]  fire
 
lostsole31
 R1T19:  Helena spies the beast and instinctively brings  up the bow. Silvery fire  bursts from her hands and the bow as she takes aim before she steps  back for a better angle and let’s fly. She knows better than to aim for  center of mass, but instead aims for a lower arm where the two bones  meet to create a "larger target" for herself. Her pinpoint accuracy just  manages to hit the two bones as they meet the elbow. The arrow doesn't  hurt it, but it does slam long enough against it before breaking away  that the skeleton takes   2 fire  .

 R1T8:   Drake darts through and across, and a claw scrapes hard along the chain  under his coat. He elbows it in the head as hard as he can for  10 , caving in the head but it just keeps coming.   "Damn, that thing is sturdier than a normal skeleton!"  
 R1T7:   Grum , what do you do?

Joey on deck, Sal in the hole ...
DrK
Pushing forward Grum drops south to be beside the skeletal thing.   ”Aye, I’ve not time fer you today..”   he grunts as wielding the massive blade defensively he lashes out and readies to party.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Step SW 5ft
Swift: Shift into Warding blade form
Attack: (risky attack on)  (1d20+8)[ 26 ]  dam  (2d6+9)[ 14 ] 
(Not included +1 damage from Chakra Power)

If it attacks Grum counter attack with warding blade form (as shield end)
 (1d20+7)[ 27 ]  dam  (2d6+9)[ 17 ] 

Attack roll 1 lower due to not benefiting from furious focus and 1 damage from Chakra power not included and 1 damage from 1E invested into Juggernaught blade warding blade form
If hit with AoO gain damage as THP up to max 15
 
lostsole31
 R1T7:   Pushing forward Grum drops south to be beside the skeletal thing.   ”Aye, I’ve not time fer you today..”    he grunts as wielding the massive blade defensively he lashes out and  readies to party. His akashic blade destroys the skeleton, and left  behind in the rubble is a Tiny creature that is very strange and  bug-like. 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Hard corner. He had to take a move action to get  to that point. I am sneaky; I already updated chakra power's damage into  your weapons chart.
 

 R1T5:  Joey leaves  that initial room, taking the lantern with him, leaving only Helena's  magical light to help the two humans remaining in the first room.

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T32:    "There it is! The ostovite! It's a magical creature, not an actual bug of any kind,"    calls out Sal. He doesn't even bother trying to waste an arrow shooting  at so small a creature in that scrum, but doesn't get in Helena's way,  either.

 R2T22:  Gwennid, her light-spear now gone, reaches out her hand and fires a dart of magic at it to strike the ostovite for  3 .

 R2T20:   Not knowing what's in store for it, it moves into Grum's space, but the  dwarf drops his blade on it for 22 with a grievous strike, and the  thing stops moving after giving a hideous little shriek.

 Combat Ends... 

Drake will stamp on it several times for good measure.

  "Yeah, no,"   says Sal as he comes in to collect his errant arrow,   "it's not like I didn't want to study it to maybe find out more about the dangers it represents if there are more of them."  
DrK
Grum looks down at the ostovite that had been crushed flat then grins as drake stamps up and down upon it.   "Nasty wee beastie. But one that is gone now. Strange beast controlling the bones"  . Helena looks down at  it,   "I wonder where this came from? And who's bones that it stole."  

She looks around, a query,   "Is everyone okay?"   but not seeing much in the way of injuries smiles happily. Grum nods to Drake   "Nice punch there. Maybe try that machete though, nasty beasts may bite back if ye slap them."  . Seeing the doorway ahead Grum motions and sends the two motes of light ahead of him int the next chamber as he advance towards the south east

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Grum moves his lights ~25ft down the SE passage and follows them.
 


As Grum starts walking down the passage Helena pauses in the room to look at the Ostovite corpse and quickly looks through the room for anything of value in either of the two small rooms as she trails behind the dwarf stomping implacably forward
lostsole31
  "I'm not going to waste time hacking at bone, and I sure am not going to ding up my blade attacking the floor, which is what it amounts to when striking at something so small,"   says Drake.   "My gun care kit was still in my pack, but not my whetstone, oil, and cloth for the blade."  

Grum passes right by an alcove and heads into a much larger room to the southeast.

Back where everyone else is, however, this room contains several low shelves covered with rags and loose bones. A hallway extends to the southeast (where Grum went), while a stone door to the east is carved with the image of several heroic figures standing solemnly together. The eastern door (the one you came out of) is carved with images of the Red Shrikes - the ones whose plaques were above the sarcophagi you awoke in.

 Helena , do you want to lead the others in a search in here? If so, quick or deep search?

Grum, you hadn't even noticed the alcove you blew right past. Now, though, the marble walls of this large hall are carved with several images of battle, each featuring a knight astride a lean horse. The knight wears no helmet and has long hair and a wide mustache. In each of the images, the knight is charging at undead horrors with a rapier in hand.

Two halls lead out of the western portion of this room, one to the north and one to the south. Three large archways lead out of the room to the east. The archway to the northeast is carved with the words “At My Right Hand, Peace for Years of Righteous Labors”; the archway to the east is carved with the words, “Roslar: Hero and Paladin at His Well-Earned Rest;” and the archway to the southeast reads, “Loyal Abdell, Support Thy Master Always.”

 Grum , do you let yourself succumb to the allure of what's-around-the-river-bend-itis?
DrK
Grum pauses at the entrance to the larger chamber and looks around before looking back to the others.   "Its a larger chamber here. All the walls be about Roslar. Odd thing to be on the walls."   he looks back at Helena,   "You had some book learning Helena. What do you know about Roslar and Abdell?"  . He pauses, blade resting on his shoulder as he watches the larger chamber.

Helena looks up and nods,   "Roslar. As in Roslar's Coffer?"   she asks looking at the dwarf. She tries to wrack her brains to think of what she learns as she has a cursory search of the shelves in both small chambers.   "Here, you three have a look for anything useful."   She calls to the three brothers whilst looking at Gwen directly,   "Can you help Grum please?"   she asks nicely, feeling suspicion that the brothers are not used to this type of place whilst Gwen seems more worldly.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Grum holds and watches the room. WHilst considering what he may know
Helena will do a quick search of each of the small rooms
 
lostsole31
(Only two brothers, the other is a friend...)

As Helena and Grum both hail from Roslar's Coffer (or spent a significant number of years there), they both know that Roslar was a paladin of the Knights of Ozem. Roslar participated in the Shining Crusade almost 1,000 years ago, where he died a hero.

Grum doesn't know this, but Helena remembers a rumor she heard, though she doesn't know if it is true or not. Roslar was enamored with Arazni, the angelic Red Crusader, herald of Aroden and patron saint of the Knights of Ozem.

Gwen goes and stands next to Grum.   "We have red glows that way,"   she says, pointing (to the relative south).

Meanwhile, Helena is about to "supervise" but finds that whatever the three men are or are not used to? Doing a search of a musty tomb seems to be about  de rigeur  for them as a master mason putting mortar on bricks.  Joey actually stands back with the light, guiding them, but they seem to have a way of doing things together that says they are used to this kind of thing.  And in fact, DEFINITELY use to looking through places like this with more alacrity and skill than Helena. Of course, the dead are buried in a place like this, which gives her pause, but to them, it is just a work site.

Among the rags and shelves of that first smaller room, they find a very fine heavy mace. Lacking any weapon, Joey holds onto that. The rags also hid two very tiny pearls (value TBD).

A small alcove on the east wall of the hallway contains a few stone shelves: a dozen candles; a silver holy symbol that Helena recognizes is that of the dead god Aroden; an engraved, decorated, polished stick; five small vials of similar fluid; and a satchel.
DrK
Grum glances at Gwen and nods.   ”Aye it be glowing a treat. But be wary o’ a trap.”   he’ll mutter as he looks back at the others. He keeps his blade ready and then casts a minor prayer and looks about searching for magical auras near by (Sweeping south west then round to the east)

Helena looks at the three men,   ”not your first time looting a tomb”?   she asks wryly before asking   ”Shall I have a look to see if it’s of arcane significance?”   As she peers at the fine mace and the vials with magical senses.

 
 Spoiler: OOC  


Grum casts detect magic and looks SW, S, SE, E, NE whilst waiting

Helena cases detect magic to look at the loot the boys found and if needed spellcraft to ID them
 


As she works she speaks about Roslar and Arazni sharing what she knows
lostsole31
  "Hey, we're not tomb-robbers,"   says Drake defensively with a growl.   "Items in a coffin or sarcophagus are sacred. Stuff hidden in dropcloths and lying around on shelves when it looks like the owners aren't coming back are fair game."  
  "Mainly,"   Sal interjects more calmly,   "we've found that to get to a ghost's corporeal remains so we can salt and burn them, they haven't always been obvious to find. So, it's just something we've had to learn to do. Stomach the smells and look through the leavings. But neither one of us compare to  *sigh*   Joey  there."  
  "I think at this point,"   says 'Joey,'   "it's pointless to keep up the charade. We're not on Earth, so it serves no point. My real name is Camael. Joey Novicki is the name of the man whose body I inhabit."  
 Helena , any comment to that before you cast your loud spells (or Grum, for that matter, since sound carries off the stone walls)?
DrK
Helena looks confused,   ”I’ve not heard of a place called earth. Where is it?”    she asks and she kneels down to look at the vials and the stick before casting her spell.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Neither Helena or Grum are making a special effort to be quiet so will cast their detect magics
 
lostsole31
  "As everything began with Gwennid's observation,"   says Camael,   "a different dimension than this one. I cannot possibly give you a sense of 'where' when occupying a different dimension relative either to the one you originate from, or the one we inhabit now."  

Helena casts her spell. The mace that  Joey  Camael wields, though a finer-crafted "real" weapon than any possessed by the party, is notable only for its craftsmanship, and not only dweomers. As one might expect, the engraved stick seems magical, as does the liquid found in each of the five vials. You have no idea what aura you are reading from the wand, other than that it is faint. The vials, on the other hand, are very clearly  potions of cure light wounds  (faint conjuration).

Grum does his magical sweep (as delineated), finding no magical auras.

Gwennid calls out.   "Sal Windchaser?"  

Sal comes out of the alcove and there's a slight body shuffle as people moved around the cramped space and hallway in that area, waiting to see what Helena tells them of the magic she had cast.    "Yeah, Gwennid?"  

Gwennid looks down at the floor, and along it for a second or two before looking back at him up at him.   "How did you know?"  
  "Know what?"  
  "That danger lurked beyond the door?"  
  "I don't understand."  
  "Grum had just turned the knob, hadn't barely pushed it open, but you already moved forward with your bow. I was behind you, and I thought it strange."  
  "Oh, just a trained hunter's senses."  
  "Oh, that's grand."  

Meanwhile ...   "Helena, you and Grum both cast spells looking for magical enchantments. Your expression tells me you found something. I'm guessing two somethings ... definite wand and possible elixirs."  
DrK
At Gwennid and Sal’a exchange Grum grumbles   ”If he knows where the beasts would be he can open the doors.”  .

Back in the chamber Helena nods,  ”Yes, the wand does something, though I’m not sure what but the potions are restoratives, if you drink them or pour them on a wound they will help. Shall we each take one?”  she suggests as she offers a potion to the other 5 leaving herself out.

As she walks up to Grum with a potion the dwarf shakes his head,   “Nay lass. You keep it. I do have me own ways of healing. Gorum helps those who be brave in battle.”  
As he is joined be Helena he does glance at the 3 strange men.   ”Keep a wee eye on ‘em lass, they ain’t from near here and who knows what they want.”   Helena nods,   ”I will but they seem trustworthy. Could you look at the wand Grum?”  

Grum nods.   ”Lets have a wee gander eh?”   as he grasps it to see if he can recognise it. Once that’s done he’ll point out the glow,   ”Someone watch that glow I’ll go this way.”    and he stomps to the east sending a light more 10ft ahead of him, leaving the second near Sal’s head.
lostsole31
He's more lost than she was as to the wand's function.
DrK
Grum tosses the stick back to Helena before stomping east in the room to explore, a mote lighting the way for everyone else.
lostsole31
Of course, Grum only goes 10' due east before he gets to a curious body in the middle of this great hall. The body seems to have had metal limbs, and the body is mutilated and shows acid damage.

Camael, who took the healer's kit and slung it over his shoulder asks,   "Do you mind if I come up and have a look at the body?"  
DrK
Grum pauses and looks over the body shrugging.   "Ain't nowt to do with me..."   he mutters as he moves past the body.   "I've seen plenty o'death before one more body ain't that special."   Walking past the body he heads to the far east end of the room to see what other ways in and out there is.

Helena follows Camael curious to see the body. Looking down at the mess on the floor she wonders,   "I wonder what it was.."   she asks to the room at large.   "Are you a healer Camael?"   she asks curiously.
lostsole31
  "Of course,"   he says matter-of-factly as he knees down to look at the humanoid corpse, following that up with no special emphasis and no particular interest or pride,   "I am an angel of the Lord."  

Helena hears the sound of two different palms, each hitting a forehead behind her. She looks back to see Sal and Drake giving her goofy "don't mind us" grins while shrugging, their hands in these curious flaps that exist about their clothing.

Camael sets down the lantern and puts the mace in the long folds of the beige coat he wears.

Meanwhile, Grum walks to the far eastern end of the room, just outside another room. The stone walls of this room are carved to resemble hanging draperies framing a large dais. Upon the dais stands a large sarcophagus, its lid carved to resemble a sleeping knight with long hair and a wide mustache. This room carries a faint nauseating odor, like putrefying meat.

As he gets an initial once over of the room, over by the body, Camael says,   "This is strange. The victim wasn't wearing metal; they were metal. Sal, can you come over and tell me what you see?"  

Sal walks up along the northern wall, while Drake looks around the place to the south.

 Surprise Round ... 
 S18:    Something skitters out from inside the body to zoom into Helena's space  before coiling up almost snake-like but with countless feet to bite  Helena in the right knee  1 NL + 1 acid .

 S17:  Camael takes out the mace, ready for battle.

 S15:   Sal ,  who is weighed down by his pack, steps back and drops his pack off his  shoulders, while getting ready to shoot his bow if needed.

 S13:   Grum   had heard the faint scraping of feet first, but only turned around to  see the battle in 1-1/2 seconds mid-progress. The body is so lacking in  core materials due to mutilation that it does not count as difficult  terrain. This is a surprise round (so MA or SA but not both). What do  you do?
DrK
Grum turns hefting the juggernaught blade and stride to beside Helena waiting to strike at the beast…

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Move 20ft to be adjacent to Helena
 
lostsole31
 S13:  Grum turns - hefting the juggernaut blade - and strides nearer to Helena, waiting to strike at the beast.

 S8:  Drake steps up and tries to curb stomp the thing, but misses.

 End Surprise Round, Begin Round One ...

R1T18:  The ostovite - for it is another one of these bug creatures - bites Helena in the foot, this time for  1 NL +  5 acid  .

 R1T17:   There is the sound of flapping wings and from a position now flanking  with Grum, Camael just manages to tag the creature, but tag it he did  for a crunchy  16 , though it is still active.

 R1T15:  Sal takes his knife and does some type of special knife attack that strikes for  2 + staggered .

 R1T13:   Grum ,  Helena was attacked so quickly and viciously that she still hasn't her  wits about her (nor has Gwennid, for that matter). What do you do?
DrK
Grum spins for a second to look for the flapping wings and eyes Camael for a second before snarling and going to crush the one attacking Helena as she squeaks with pain from the acid. Hefting the blade he shifts it into a defensive posture and swings down as hard as he can.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Risky attack:  (1d20+8)[ 20 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 16 ] 
Swift: enter Vigilant keeper stance

Did not include flanking
 
lostsole31
 R1T13:  Grum spins for a second to look for the flapping wings and eyes Camael  for a second before snarling as Helena squeaks with pain from the acid. Hefting the blade, he shifts it  into a defensive posture and swings down as hard as he can, splattering the magic bug.

 Combat Ends! 
DrK
Grum snarls and kicks the remains away and nods to Helena.   Be wary looking at bodies eh?”    he suggests as he looks at her burns.   ”Let me look at the burns eh”   he suggests but she shakes her head

 ” I am okay Master Grum, but thank you. It just took me by surprise.”    She adds. Examine the bites on her calf she passed a hand over it muttering an arcane phrase or two and the wounds start to close up

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Spend a 1st level slot and an arcane point to cast cure light wounds  (1d8+3)[ 4 ]  hps
 


She the examines the strange body, a general  ” Has anyone seen such a thing? ”  As she looks at it and picks at the bits carefully. After that she rises and straps her buckler onto her arm.  “ Better safe than sorry in this place.”   she adds.

Grum gestures at the door to the NE,  ” Drake, you want to have a look in there with me. Can Sal look after Gwen and Helena?”   he suggests as a mote of light floats towards the door of the room to the north east corner.
lostsole31
Camael observes Helena and says,   "You healed yourself, but with arcane power. You're a white mage, aren't you?"  

He asks this as he and Sal and Helena (and Gwen looking around) study the remains of the being. Other than determining the creature seemed to have skin of metal, its insides have been scoured out by acid and it is hard to determine what it might have been. Nobody has any working theories.

Drake follows with Grum into what appears to be Roslar's sarcophagus room.    "That smell is rank!"   he says.   "That's not old death, that's new death ... decomposition. But the sarcophagus looks firm, so what the hell are we smelling?"  
DrK
Helena looks at Camael,   "I am surprised you know that term Master Camael"    she says but nods.   "But yes, I have learned some basic healing arts in my training. This is a strange being, one that I have never seen before."   she straightens, checking the buckler once more and looking around.   "Have a care Grum, Drake, there may be more of these ostovites waiting to pounce."  

Grum looks at Drake, a quiet,   "Slip of a girl with a few wee years of training and she be giving me advice..."   he grumbles more as he moves to explore the alcove housing the sarcophagus walking around it before looking at the lid,   "Head or tail Lad?"  
lostsole31
  "Hold on a second,"   he says, taking out that machete of his. He seems to be following his nose. Once he gets to the eastern wall, he peers in between the end of the sarcophagus and the wall before calling out,   "There!"  
 Begin Round One ... 
 R1T27:  Sal hustles into the eastern room while taking out his bow.

 R1T21:  Camael picks up the hooded lantern and heads that way as well.

 R1T19:   With Drake blocking the way south, a creature slithers out from behind  the wall. It resembles a Small snake, but it has absolutely no flesh  remaining and is just bone. Its entire body is made up of overlapping  bony plates, and its eyes are pinpoints of red light. It slithers down  the stairs and right up to Grum, darting at him to bite him.

 R1T11:   Grum , what do you do?
DrK
Grum looked at the bone snake and leapt at it   ”Die ye foul beastie!”   he shouts as he swings hard it’s head the steps back west to counter if it attacks him

 
 Spoiler: OOC  


Attack with risky attack  (1d20+8)[ 13 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 18 ] 

If attacked AoO to counter from warding form  (1d20+6)[ 15 ]  dam  (2d6+11)[ 18 ] 

-1 to hit from lack of furious focus
-1 to hit as shield not sword end end (amp no weapon focus)
+1 dam from Warding mode Essentia
Gain THP (max 15)
 
lostsole31
 R1T11:  Grum looks at the bone snake and leaps at it, shouting,   ”Die ye foul, beastie!”   as he swings hard at its head, his blade just barely tipping off of its bony skull.

 R1T10:   Helena , what do you do?
DrK
Helen hears the commotion and darts forward.   ”Blast, more ostovite.”   she grumbles without being able to see what is happening. That changes as she reaches the doorway,   what is that!”   followed by the twang as she launches an arrow at it.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Swift: Stance piercing rays
Move: 20ft, 4 squares east 1 square south
Standard: silver strike risky attack
 (1d20+6)[ 24 ]  or  (1d20+6)[ 22 ]  dam  (1d6+4)[ 6 ]  +  (1d6)[ 3 ]  fire
* not included Point blank shot

Free: Armigers mark on target
 
lostsole31
 R1T10:  Helena hears the commotion and darts forward.   ”Blast! More ostovite,”   she grumbles without being able to see what is happening. That changes as she reaches the doorway,   "What is that!”   followed by the twang as she launches an arrow at it. The arrow strikes the bone snake for  2 mod +  3 fire  . A fine shot, and one hopefully that will get it to focus on her.

 R1T7:  Drake comes around the side while taking out his pistol and says,   "It's  a bone cobra - ain't a ghost, but a cheap form of guardian, like a  bargain basement sale version of an iron cobra. Careful, the bite on  this guy is gooey and cause you to start getting stuck to things."  

He  levels his arm directed at the bone cobra and then the most obnoxiously  loud report you've ever heard erupts from the end of his gun, belching a  little bit of smoke and seemingly spitting a little fire.

Once the sound dissipates, because people were wincing with eyes shut, the bone cobras shattered body is all that's left.

 Combat Ended! 
DrK
Grum jumps and spins, looking at the metallic weapon.   "Torag's iron arse what be that!"   he bellows rubbing at his ear and nodding to Helena.   "Not seen an strange beast like that either. But what be that?"   he asks again gesturing at the gun in Drake's hand.

Helena likewise lowers the bow after jumping in surprise.   "Is that magic or alchemy? A true marvel"   she adds before stepping closer to the sarocphagus. Casting a divination she looks around for any magical auras in the chamber and then glances north and south.   "Which do you want to look at next?"   she asks more widely as Grum explores the room around the sarcophagus.
lostsole31
  "Mechanics?"   says Drake, collecting his brass and holstering the gun.

As Sal walks in he says,   "Assume it falls under 'alchemy.'"  

Drake goes to the foot of sarcophagus and looks to Grum.   "Ready when you are."  
 Grum , if you take charge of turning the lid of the sarcophagus, make a STR check.
DrK
Grum looks again at the gun and shakes his head.   ”Its nae a sky citadel lad.”   before nodding and helping with the lid

 
 Spoiler: Str check 

 (1d20+4)[ 12 ] 
 


As the dwarf and man struggle with the lid Helena looks at Sal,   ”Mechanical? Is that a word you use for crafted or made? It’s not a term I’ve heard before?   she asks, smiling innocently as she is still trying to figure out these 3 strangers
lostsole31
Grum and Drake make no headway on the lid. Drake takes out the crowbar and says,   "Okay, I'll try this time."  
 Grum , roll a STR check for an Aid Another action.

Meanwhile, Drake looks at Helena oddly and says,   "Mechanics? You don't know that word!? C'mon, lady.  Mechanics . Machines, engines, pistons, moving parts and all that?"  
DrK
Grum looks at the crowbar and nods,  " Aye lad. Its well stuck on. "  spits o his hands and tries again

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Str Check  (1d20+4)[ 16 ] 
 


As they do that Helena shakes her heads,  " Pistons and engines... these are words i've not heard of. We have machines, like a loom, a watermill and the like. But they are big with wood mainly and no so fine as that, and none that I know of that make fire like that small one. Maybe this is why your home doesn't need as much magic?""   she asks watching them strain at the lid.
As they do that she returns to the entryway to spread some light to the central chamber looking at the doors to the north and south to make sure nothing slithers or crawls out.
lostsole31
Drake focuses more on the sarcophagus lid, but with his Grum's help (and Sal came to help, too), with the crowbar they are able to turn the lid to look inside.

The sarcophagus is empty.

  "Hey, powderkeg,"   says Drake to Grum,   "Can we get that nimble little will-o'-wisp of yours down here inside the sarcophagus I want to try to look at these carvings."  
  "Refectory,"   says Sal, with a tone of obvious correction.

  "What!?"   asks Drake more annoyed by the tone.   "A refract-a-what?"  
  "Refectory,"   Sal says again.   "A sarcophagus, by definition, has a body in it. A refectory is that which is made like a sarophagus ... but either never has, never intended to have, or currently does not have ... a body in it."  

Drake gives him a dark look and shakes his head.   "Such a frickin' nerd,"   before he turns around to Grum and gestures at his dancing green glow in the corner.

Helena feels something holding lightly onto her sleeve, and looks down to see Gwennid holding onto Helena's sleeve gingerly for emotional support while also eyeing the rest of the vast room with her as well.
DrK
Helena looks at the small plant and pats her gently on the shoulder,   ”Its creepy isn’t it? I feel from the pictures and the art it should be safe but the things that seem to be here don’t bode well. But I’m sure with the inheritors grace we can escape and work out what is happening.”   

Behind her Grum looks in the lid and shakes his head.   ”bloomin empty. Cheap bast***”   before stomping back to the main chamber and sending a mote to the nearest openings to the north and south.  “ which one eh? ”  he asks the room at large.
lostsole31
  "Hey, Grum!"   calls Drake.   "What the hell?! Didn't you hear me? I need your glowy inside this reefer-torky so I can see."  
DrK
Grum shakes his head and moves essentia from his lion’s mane, a third more popping out of his hands and then descending into the refectory.
lostsole31
Drake looks inside and describes what he saw. Although the sarcophagus is empty, the interior of the lid is carved with a slender angelic woman with a benevolent gaze surrounded by clouds, looking down as though from a great height. Words around the image read, “O Arazni, the Red Crusader, Watch Over My Eternal Rest.”
DrK
Helena glances around and wonders what Arazni has to do with the tomb. She glances at Drake, Sal and Camael,   ”Have you encountered Arazni in your home?”   she wonders herself how Arazni relates to things.

As she wonders Grum makes the choice and stomps towards the door to the north.   ”Aye, be this one. I’ll be having a look.”   he offers as he stomps up to the way in to that room.
lostsole31
The only thing the party knows about Arazni off the top of their heads is what Helena might have shared with them. I assume she shared that with them, but I don't assume that she shared the rumors that there was a scandal that hung over Roslar after his heroic death, as that might negatively reflect on the Knights of Ozem.

Grum has one mote out over towards the rest of the room, and directs on right into the room he heads towards. The mote reveals several long stone slabs line the walls of this room like shelves. The shelves are pitted with acid and contain scraps of old cloth. A few chunks of bone litter the floor.
DrK
Grum looks back at the others,   ”This one be empty. Or at least looks empty. More shelves and other junk. Come and gie me a hand.”   he barks as he heads into the room and has a look around the left hand side.
lostsole31
The three men in the room that you can't see anymore ignore the dwarf as they're doing their own search in that room.

Gwennid joins Grum in what appears to have been possibly the servant's crypt.

What kind of search is Grum intending to do in here?
DrK
Grum looks at Gwen,   ”ye go east I’ll go west?”    he suggests,   “just gie it a quick sweep aye?”   he offers as he starts to quickly check shelves and tombs, pausing to cast detect magic and sweep the room.
lostsole31
Gwennid gives a quick nod and they begin their search and scan. Nearly 20 of Roslar’s loyal retainers, squires, and servants were laid to rest here, each on a slab carved with the servant’s name and position.

The ostovites discovered this room at some point and apparently consumed nearly all the bones here, but in the process, their acidic saliva weakened the stone. The slabs along the northern wall, farthest from the archway entry, are now dangerously unstable and function collectively as a trap if touched.

Grum spent too much time on the surface and away from the blessed halls, caves, and tunnels of his original home. Enough that his worries and experience have been less about a connection to the stone around him rather than corruption. But he's still a dwarf, and readily recognizes an "incidental trap" - a trap caused by natural or incidental dangers, rather than a malicious one. One the stone slabs that will surely give way if he messes with it is a single little etched stone next to a non-magical gold ring.

Gwennid notices the danger shortly after.   "Uh-oh. Don't touch. Rocks fall. You die."  
DrK
Grum glances at GWen and gestures at the ring and the rock.   "It be magic. How dangerous does it be?"   he asks. Then he turns to look back at the others,   "Do any of you be having a long pole? I needs to grab something "   As he says something Helena approaches and looks at the room.   "The tomb contains servants it appears, and they ate all the bones."  

Looking about she listens as Grum explains the trap. Looking at the ring and the bauble she smiles and waves a hand, a flickering small pincer of force floating across the room to scoop up the ring and etched ring. Floating back across the room she looks with her magical senses examining it carefully.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Detect magic it identify the items
Mage hand to pick up the items from a distance away
Spellcraft/ Know (Arcana) as needed to examine to try and ID it
 
lostsole31
The menfolk finished their 2-1/2 minute search of Roslar's resting place (sans Roslar) and watch Helena artfully bring over a small bead and a ring.

The bead is magical. She studies its faint aura. She mentions some things about the aura - maybe in shifting patterns or colors - but she doesn't even know what school it represents, likely because of the faintness of the aura.

Sal holds out his hand to Helena.   "May I?"  
DrK
She nods,   ”of course, please take a look, do you have many magical trinkets where you are from.”  . As she and Sal discuss the magical items and the ring Grum looks down to Gwen and then at the coffins

  ”Brave soldiers nae doubt . Now bones be ruined by wee monsters”    he adds tapping one of the nearby coffins and offering a salute.   “one more to go before the glowing one aye?”   he says to Gwen and Drake once Sal and Helena have finished as he goes motions a mote of light towards the SE most archway and walks up to the opening.
lostsole31
Sal takes the bead and looks at it, seemingly concentrating.    "Okay, I'm getting that it is something mental, something that compels an action or state of being."  

With Sal's insight, and with Sal and Helena working the clues, she realizes that this must be a bead of blessing that was separated from a strand of prayer beads ... or more correctly, the other beads were removed, as this bead is still connected to the string it came with, for any strand disconnected from the main loses power.  Helena knows that once a day, the owner of such a bead can ask for a blessing from the gods. Usually it is for increased ferocity in battle, but on rare times it might be something else. 
 Spoiler: Helena 
It seems that whatever his lore of magic is, his intuitive connection to understanding magical auras, at least, is better than your own. It's only when it comes down to actual knowledge of what the item might be that you surpass him, yet he still is a perspicacious young man that provides valuable insight.

Now, HOW he saw a magical aura without casting  detect magic ? That you don't know.
 

While this happens, Gwennid was looking at the gold ring. It is definitely styled like wedding ring, stating "For Aloisius; my love, my heart, my morning dove."  It is probably worth some gold.

Over to the south, Grum is at the doorway, having sent his mote in, and looking in ... with Drake and Camael on either side behind him. The stone walls of this room are carved to resemble an airy stable with a large stone box at the southern end. The lid of the box is cracked and corroded, as though from powerful acid. An illustration of a lean, regal stallion and the words “No Greater Friend Hath a Man Than His Loyal Steed” are chiseled into the stone above the box.

Suddenly launching out of the horse-crypt is a most hideous sight. It is an amalgamation of bones that only somewhat resembles a horse; its skull sits too close to its torso and one leg has been attached in the wrong spot, and it appears as if someone who has never seen a real horse tried to put the bones together of one.

 Begin Round One ... 
 R1T21:  In light of this unholy terror, there is a  strange sensation all around. Everyone can almost hear a faint ringing  in their ears as if something in local reality is no longer in line with  the rest of reality. Camael's eyes glow a golden yellow as he intones  some eldritch language, his voice becoming almost super-real with an  echoed quality, while his free hand goes to something under his shirt  and narrow cravat. Completing some rite, everyone feels rejuvenated with  a sense of victory over one's enemies. That feeling remains, though the  sense of disjunction from reality - the tinnitus and Camael's glowing  eyes - fade.

He sets the hooded lantern down on the ground.

 R1T19:   Helena , you are still girded with buckler, but not bow. What do you do?
DrK
Helena looks up from the bead in surprise at the commotion seeing the bony horse over Grum’s head.   ”By her light.”   she mutters as she whips out her bow, drops into an elaborate crouch and launches an arrow that sizzles with glowing red fire.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Swift: stance piercing rays
Move: draw bow
Standard: silver strike (risky attack)
 (1d20+6)[ 8 ]  or  (1d20+6)[ 8 ]  dam  (1d8+4)[ 10 ]  +  (1d6)[ 6 ]  fire

PBS not included
What did Camael’s effect do?
 
lostsole31
 R1T19:  Helena looks up from the bead in surprise at the commotion seeing the bony horse over Grum’s head.   ”By Her light,”    she mutters as she whips out her bow, drops into an elaborate crouch  and launches an arrow that sizzles with glowing red fire that completely  misses and hits the far wall with a shatter of splinters and ember. Not  even the  bless  spell she recognized Camael casting could help her with how badly she lined up her shot.

 R1T15:   Sal gets into his own archer's stance, one as distinct as Helena's, but  distinctly different. He concentrates, and there is a thrumming sound  around him only momentarily, including a slight distortion of the air in  front of him that is gone as quickly as it might have been noticed. He  then steps up behind Grum.

 R1T13:   Grum , what do you do?
DrK
Grum looks up at the massive collection of bones and hooves. Stepping to the attack he chopped down once with aggressive force. He then spins the blade to block anymore attacks

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Risky attack  (1d20+8)[ 21 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 17 ] 
Warding blade AoO if attacked  (1d20+6)[ 19 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 18 ] 

Not included: Bless
 
lostsole31
 R1T13:  Grum looks up at the massive collection of bones and hooves. Stepping in to  attack he chops down once with aggressive force for  12 mod . He then spins  the blade to block anymore attacks and in doing so, he is inspired with martial prowess.

 R1T11:   Grum sees that creepy little ostovite sitting inside the rib cage. Many  tendrils extrude from it to keep the bones together and move them like  some morbid puppet master. The thing yanks around on the weird flesh  puppet strings it made to kick at Grum. Grum's blade smashes into the  bone horse chariot for  13 mod , blocking the attack.

 R1T8:   Gwennid dashes past Grum inside that room. The horse awkwardly kicks  them with a bony hoof, clobbering Gwennid in the wing as they pass by  for  7 mod . Gwennid gives a start and turns, casting  some sort of fey magic. A riot of colors burst forth to wash over the  horse and its rider, but missing Grum. The tendrils all reflex, and the  bone chariot collapses around its rider.

 R1T6:   Drake moves in and takes a quick look at it before dropping his machete  and powerfully as he can ... critting and splattering the ostovite.

 Combat Ends! 
DrK
Helena shakes her head,  ” More disgusting beasts.”   and looks down at her quiver with some concern.

At the front Grum with a mote of light by his head moves south into the chamber where the horse came from looking about with interest.   ”You hurt Gwen?”   he asks offering to help numb the pain with Gorum’s blessing

 
 Spoiler: Fervour 


If Gwen would like healing spend a fervour  (1d6)[ 2 ]  healing
 
lostsole31
Gwennid looks up to Grum. You can't see their mouth, but there is a slight widening of the cheekbones and the eyes are practically gleaming. Camael comes up the other side and intones magic and touches Gwennid for   6 healing  . A light bruise remains.

In addition to the arch that leads into this room, there is another, smaller exit from this room. The crumbled bottom of the southeastern wall leads to a small tunnel about 1 foot wide.

The box that once held the steed Abdell's bones holds silver and jade adornments from the decayed bridle that might be worth something, and it is collected (non-magical).

It only took the party a minute-and-a-half to do a quick search of Abdell's resting area. During that time, Gwennid put as many of the bigger, easier-to-handle bones back in the horse's resting area.

Where to now?
DrK
Grum looks at the jewels and the bones, his innate dwarven avarice for shiny things twitching before he shakes his head.   ”Leave the beastie his gold eh? I’ll loot an enemy but I not be stealing frae a man’s pony.”  

He stomps out to the central chamber and glances at the arch with the red glow.   ”All clear sage that one? Ye be ready?”   he asks.

Helena nods   ”Yes constable. I’m ready. Let’s hope there are no more of these foul ostovites.”  

Grim nods to Gwen, Drake, Sal and Camael and stomps to the opening in the SW that had the red glow. Helena following some 10ft behind, her comforting presence keeping Grum safe.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Grum moves 1E from light bangle (dropping to 2 motes) and puts it into Lions Heart
Motes are by Sal and by Grum
 
lostsole31
The party starts to fall in some after dropping the bejeweled bridle into the bronco's broken bone box.

Camael adjusts the hooded lantern's dial to bring the light way down on the lantern as glare is starting to become an issue, and Sal picks up his pack. Gwennid notes that Sal has trouble with his pack and the gear he has, and casts a spell on him. Sal finds he is much more comfortable than before and nods to Gwennid.   "Thanks."  

Grum steps just into the hallway, and the first thing he sees is a small alcove on the east wall of this hallway that contains stone shelves with some boxes and bags. On the floor are several shiny plates of insectile exoskeleton that glimmer with a faint red glow.

To the south in the room beyond, he sees a fat, man-sized bug sitting on the wall in that room, but not reacting to party light's or anything and just hanging out.
DrK
Grum pauses looking at the bug then advances slowly,   ”Hope ye not be squeamish, there be a bug in ‘ere.”   he says as he slowly walks forward.   “Also be some stuff on a shelf that may be useful.”   he adds

Helena follows carefully and searches over the boxes and shelves, bow slung on a shoulder   ”Oh, that is a big bug.”   she exclaims as she catches sight of it.
lostsole31
When she passes Grum, she sees there are actually  two  big bugs on the wall, each with glowing red abdomens.
DrK
Grum advances past Helena,   ”Search the shelves missy. I’ll watch yer back.”   

He advances 10ft to the south to cover Helena and keeps an eye on the bugs, sword in hand.
lostsole31
Grum steps into that southwestern room. This wide room has a hallway leading out of the north wall and a set of stairs leading up to the east. An elaborately lifelike image carved into the south wall depicts a mustachioed knight kneeling before a slender woman with feathery wings. The woman holds a rapier above her head with one hand while the other is extended to the knight, who is kissing it. Lettering above the image reads, “Faithfulness Always to the Red Crusader.”

There are also THREE bugs in here. And now that Grum stomps in here with his green light, NOW they come to life with an angry whirr!

 Begin Round One ... 
 R1T20:  Hearing the mentioned beetles come to life,  Gwennid forms their spear in their hand and flies in to aid their fellow  small folk (height, not size category, mind you). They maintain a  flying position at level and strike the southernmost beetle with the  spear for  12 , and it falls off the wall to the ground.

 R1T17:  Sal closes while re-entering his shooting stance, passes Helena, and then lets loose with a perfect strike that hits Blue for  8 + disabled + sickened .

 R1T14:  Then it is Drake's turn and he runs in and hits the third beetle for  10 , knocking it to the ground.

 R1T12:   Helena , two downed beetles, and one that barely has anything left in it. What do you do?
DrK
Helena looks at the carnage and then sighs.   ”Poor beasts”   she murmurs as she finishes rummaging in the boxes.

Grum nods in approval, a cheerful   ”Nice one lassie.”   to Gwen and a nod to Drake and Sal.   “aye, heading upstairs aye?”   he suggests as he moves to stomp on up the stairs once Helena has finished
lostsole31
 R1T12:  Helena looks at the carnage and then sighs.   ”Poor beasts”   she murmurs as she begins rummaging through the supplies on the shelf.

 R1T11:  Blue hops from the wall to the ground, but is too badly crippled to continue the fight.

 R1T10:  Camael hustles down to the beetle-room to see what's happening.

 R1T6:  Grum nods in approval, a cheerful,   ”Nice one lassie,”   to Gwen and a nod to Drake and Sal.   “Aye, heading upstairs, aye?”   he suggests as he moves to stomp on up the stairs once Helena has finished.

 R1T4:   From the shattered carapace of the beetle under Helena's and Sal's feet  bursts forth an ostovite that was hiding! It snaps at Helena with its  weird little mouth and a shrill screech.

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T20:   Gwennid tries to put the disabled bug out of its misery but the beetle  flaps its wings to protect itself. That startles Gwennid and they drop  their glowing light-spear and accidentally punt it. It bounces all  around the room, nearly missing everyone, before it winks out of  existence.   "Sorry,"   Gwennid mutters forlornly.

 R2T17:   Sal seems to study the ostovite, concentrates, and puts a hand on  Helena's shoulder - the only member of the party to be able to do that  comfortably. Sal's eyes take on a faint red, lambent glow as he does so.

 R2T14:  Drake hits the disabled beetle for  7 , dropping it.

 R2T12:   Helena ,  Sal's touch almost overwhelms you with a weird euphoria. So much  information flashes in your mind. Your analytical mind can't parse it  out, but you still have an ostovite at your feet (in your square). What  do you do?

Camael on deck, Grum in the hole ...
DrK
Helena lets out a squeak as the ostovite leaps out at her. Jumping back she lashes out with buckler seeking to bash it away. She shakes her head,   ”What did you do?”   she calls to Sal as she strikes.

 
 Spoiler: OOC  


5ft north
Swift: enter silver crane waltz stance
Standard: buckler bash risky attack  (1d20+6)[ 25 ]  dam  (1d3+3)[ 5 ] 

Not sure what Sal did
 
lostsole31
 R2T12:  Helena lets out a squeak as the ostovite leaps out at her. Jumping back  she lashes out with buckler seeking to bash it away. She shakes her  head,   ”What did you do?”   she  calls to Sal as she strikes. But it is at the instant that she goes on  muscle memory and instinct and no longer thinks directly about what he  did so much as ask him, that she gets a sense. As she attacks, her mind  sees a series of possibilities, like slight adjustments this way or that  leading to greater success ... or abject failure. Her mind latches on a  possibility and her buckler comes down onto the ostovite for  5 .

  "Did it help?"   asks Sal.

 R2T10:  Camael says to the two in his room,   "They aren't dead yet,"    before coming north to join the fray. He swings his mace down hard for  13, then again more quickly and and with greater he strikes again for  17, smushing the ostovite.

  "I just imparted a bit of my sight to you,"    says Sal. 
 Combat Ends! 

Given Camael's advice, Sal and Gwennid make short work of the fire beetles.

  "Hey, we can save your magic and our oil if we coat something sizeable in the bioluminescence of of the beetle-juice,"   offers Sal.

  "Hey!"   says Drake sternly.   "Don't say that anymore."  
  "What, Beetlejuice?"   asks Sal with a smirk.

It is also during this time that people seem to have a sense that Camael's power from the previous fight is no longer with them.
DrK
Grum looks around the mayhem and shakes his head.   "I do be suprised the tomb be this busy."   he mutters. Happy that everyone looks okay he'll look up the stairs further,   "Anything else be in those boxes apart frae' some ostovites?"   he'll ask, waiting to see what Helena finds

Helena looks at Calem and shakes her head.   "Please warn me before you do something like that."   she asks before looking at the shelf for anything that may shed some clues on where they are or for anything useful.
lostsole31
Camael extinguishes the lantern and gives it back to Sal to attach to his pack. He then puts his mace into the guts of a fire beetle and swirls it around to get good coverage on his makeshift torch. Drake nods and does the same thing to his machete. Gwennid shrugs and rubs the guts in patterns and the like all about their clothing. At this point, there isn't enough fire beetle guts useful for coating anything for anyone else.

Helena finds to some dismay that there is nothing really interesting here. Whoever keeps the tomb used this shelves as cleaning materials. Bags and boxes are neatly placed on the shelves and contain an assortment of brushes, rags, and polish.

Now what?
DrK
Grum watches the fire beetle painting with a   Ye be painting with blood of the beast? This be a tradition in yer land?”   he asks. Helena shaking her head at the empty shelves nods to the stairs and the dwarf nods.

A pair of light motes hover 10ft in front and behind the dwarf as he heads up the stairs weapon at the ready.
lostsole31
In reference to Grum's question, Drake just shrugs and points to Camael,   "Hey! He started it. Besides ... it looks badass."  

Gwennid points to the leaves adorning them, and you don't know where their body ends and "clothing" begins, but they say,   "I adorn myself with the dead, already."  

Camael shrugs and says,   "It makes sense. Waste not."  

The group gets into some semblance of a formation it is beginning to feel out. Grum, of course, is in the very front for protection. He's backed up by Drake. Behind him is Helena with her bow, but also choosing a near-middle position to better get eyes on the members of the party and protect those close to her. Gwennid likes her protection and stays behind Helena. They are followed by Sal with his bow towards the rear, and Camael bringing up the final rank. This also spreads out the current light sources.

The steps aren't terribly long, just 20' stone stairs to the next level on a simple incline .... feeling like home in some ways to Grum, if it weren't for the feeling of a tomb. Those stairs empty into a room. This room contains a row of four marble busts with a strong family resemblance. Each bust rests atop a narrow stone pillar. The bust farthest to the north—of a proud man with a wide mustache—wears an elegant wig of actual hair. An archway opens into another room to the north, while a set of stairs descends to the west.
DrK
Grum stomps into the middle of the room smiling at the strange tall men.   ”Down in the 5 kingdoms many of the beasts have ichor that do burn. Ye be killing yer self wiping their bits in ye.”  

As he enters the room at the top of the stairs and stomps into the middle he looks at the busts.   “be a family party eh?”   the looks at Helena.   “Ye recognise them Helena?”  

Helena follows the dwarf,   ”Lets have a look then Master Grum.”  
lostsole31
These busts depict Roslar and his immediate family: his sister, mother, and father. Small plaques beneath them read, from west to east, “Fallist Roslar, Father,” “Emmillisa Roslar, Mother,” “Annilisa Roslar, Sister,” and “Ervin Roslar, Hero.”

There is an archway with a fitted doorway to the north.

Do you do any kind of search in here? What do you do?
DrK
Grum will walk up and walk along the lines of busts from south to north. A glance at the hair meaning an involuntary hand rises to his beard,   ”Nay a bad head of hair aye?”   he asks as he wanders  past the busts towards the arch north
lostsole31
 Surprise Round ...

S28:  Once again, before any  sense of anything has even happened, Sal steps in front of Helena while  getting into a stance and shoots at a spot between the pillars.   "Use cold iron!"   he says even as there is a cry of pain from something hiding to the east.

 S18-3:   Several small projectiles come at Grum, having been tossed from behind  those pillars. One of them is a lucky soft crit, hitting Grum in his  left forearm for  2 .

 S10:  While the above is happening, the sounds of feathers flapping is heard and suddenly Camel is in front of the northern pillar.

 Begin Round One ...

R1T28:    "They're mites!"   Sal calls.   "Evil, little blue fey. Not hard to kill, but cold iron helps if you have it."  

Sal  does another shot, but this time it is really bad and he somehow avoids  suffering archer's elbow. Botching that, he steps out of the way for  clear fire for Helena.

 R1T22:   Helena , what do you do?
DrK
Helena looks up,   ”Where did you even see them.”   she snaps to Sal. Before she plucks an arrow from her quiver as she slides into her silver crane stance and letting fly with an arrow of immense accuracy

 
 Spoiler: OOc 


Move: Draw bow
Swift: Stance Piercing Rays
Standard: Silver strike (risky attack)
 (1d20+6)[ 12 ]  or  (1d20+6)[ 12 ] 
Dam  (1d8+4)[ 10 ]  +  (1d6)[ 6 ]  fire

Not included Point Blank Shot
 
lostsole31
 R1T22:  Helena looks up, her head snapping towards Sal,   ”Where did you even see them?”   She plucks an arrow from her quiver as she  slides into her  Silver Crane stance  and letting fly with an  arrow of  immense accuracy ... had the little buggers not been taking cover behind  the pillars, as that is exactly what the arrow bounces off.

 R1T20:   Grum ,  you have a feeling that was the very best these little creatures could  possibly do. They are so pitiful, these oversized-squashed-headed, blue  meanies. What do you do?
DrK
Grum spins the blade seeking to demolish as many as possible and swings the blade in a great horizontal arc,    "Disgusting little beasties, away wit' ye."    he bellows trying to kick them away.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Swift: Switch to titan blade form
Free: 5ft step north
Standard: Scything strike (with risky attack) vs Orange and Green
-  (1d20+8)[ 18 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 18 ] 
- Titan Blade form: deal 4 [Str mod] to Blue
 
lostsole31
 R1T20:  Grum spins the blade seeking to demolish as many as possible and swings the blade in a great horizontal arc,    "Disgusting little beasties, away wit' ye."     he bellows trying to kick them away. He completely murks Brown, but the  pillar is in the way and he finds he can't quite get over to Green as  well. In fact, the small area keeps Grum from really getting effective  use out of his blade, and he doesn't even get a consolation prize  against Blue.  
 Spoiler: Inspiration 
 Red Zephyr Strike 
 

 R1T18:  Blue, partially protected by the pillar, chants,     "Tombe sur toi ! Tombe sur toi ! Tombe sur toi !"      ... in a squeaky language neither Helena nor Grum recognize. Grum feels  a faint tickle of something at his mind, but crushes whatever power was  attempted.

 RT1T15:  Drake moves forward while drawing his machete.   "Yeah, nerd. Because everyone has cold iron, amma right?"   he says to Sal, which gets more hard-edged towards the end as he tries to hit Green but fails.

 R1T12:   Green chants the same thing as Blue did, but this time towards Sal.  Drake's demeanor changes. His face darkens in expression (not color),  but he seems more hesitant now.

 R1T0:  Camael swings twice at Red ... the first, carefully and missing; the second given much faster and more wildly, and hitting for  12 mod  and dropping it.

 R1T9:   Gwennid now completes the front rank and as something from her  headpiece seems to flash, they say in their own voice in that same  language,   "Le destin est à vous !"  

Unfortunately, nothing seems to happen, and Gwennid's shoulders sag a little.

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T28:    "Wow, fascinating,"   remarks Sal.

  "What's that?"   calls Drake.

  "I'm pretty sure the mites ... and our new friend Gwennid ... speak French."  
  "What?!?"  

Sal steps up to Grum and says as he touches him,   "Here, try this. Oh, and  'Warning!' "  

Grum  sees and senses everything normally, but there seems to be an overlay  to his vision ... many, myriad possibilities of a split-second in the  future.

  "Give in to it on your next attack, Grum."  
 R2T22:   Helena , what do you do?

Grum on deck, Blue in the hole ...
DrK
  ”First mites then ostovites it is a strange place here.”   she mutters, wincing at the force of Grum’s swing. Focusing on accuracy she goes to place an arrrow in blue’s chest.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Swift: horizon wind lancet
Standard: shoot blue  (1d20+7)[ 16 ] 
Dam  (1d8+2)[ 9 ]  +  (1d6)[ 3 ]  fire +  (1d6)[ 5 ]  boost

PBS not included
 
lostsole31
 R2T22:    ”First mites, then ostovites. It is a strange place here,”    she mutters, wincing at the force of Grum’s swing. Focusing on  accuracy, she goes to place an arrow in Blue’s chest. Her arrow strikes  true and he is flattened against the back wall before slowly drifting  down to the ground.

 R2T20:   Grum , what do you do?

Drake on deck, Green in the hole ...
DrK
Grum stares down at the mite, the vile creatures long enemies of the dwarf and brings down the blade down in a single large vertical chop onto its head.   "Vermin aye, infesting this place like bugs ye be."   he growls chopping down hard to kill it.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Standard: attack the mite (risky attack)  (1d20+8)[ 10 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 18 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R2T20:  Grum stares down at the mite, the vile creatures' long enemies of the  dwarf.   "Vermin, aye, infesting this place like bugs, ye be,"    he growls, chopping the blade down in a single, large vertical chop  towards its head, but it ducks behind the pillar. The overlay ends, but  Grum realizes that he ignored the way it was guiding him, and tried to  make the vision go the way he wanted. In the end, the now fading vision  showed a better way to attack it, but Grum's desire for dramatic  pronouncement on the final enemy was his undoing.

 R2T15:  Completely wild with fear, Drake clangs the machete against the side of the pillar to get Green.

 R2T12:  Green tosses a dart at Drake, but he ducks.

 R2T10:  Camael stands back, figuring the battle well in hand.

 R2T9:   Even though they are only a little bigger than the mite, Gwennid is also having trouble spearing it.

 End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T28:  Sal shakes his head and says,   "Get ready, Helena, I'm going to give you another short-term vision. Lean into it when you attack. Trust what it shows you."  

He concentrates and touches her shoulder as before, and she gets the same sensation as before.

 R3T22:   Helena , what do you do? If you attack, do you do as Sal had said?

Grum on deck, Drake in the hole ...
DrK
Helena nods, letting the vision guide her this time and lets fly with another arrow

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Standard attack:  (1d20+7)[ 15 ]  dam  (1d8+2)[ 10 ]  +  (1d6)[ 1 ]  fire

Not included PBS or the bonus from Sal
 
lostsole31
It turns out that the mini-visions you get from him are EXACTLY what were needed, as Helena's arrow - just barely guided by Sal's power - fells the creature!

 Combat Ends! 
DrK
Helena walks towards the mites seeing if any arrows are recoverable.   ”Ugly beasts, but they seemed as confused as us.”   She says as she also goes to investigate the statues to see who they might be

Grum sneers at the dead mites   ”Vermin they be. No use for ‘em”   he adds before letting others look at what they want as he moves to opening to the north to peer into the next room and keep an eye out if anything else is lurking here
lostsole31
Helena finds there is a price to be paid for fiery arrows, as even the ones that missed their mark were weakened by the flame and destroyed.

The brothers make sure the mites are never getting back up.

  "Hey, they hit Drake with something that has him tweaked,"   says Sal quietly to Helena and Grum.   "If we could take a breather for a minute here?"  

That gives Helena a chance to look at the busts ...
 
 The one to the south is of a man, reading, "Fallist Roslar, Father." 
 The one just north of that is for a woman, "Emmillisa Roslar, Mother." 
 Then is "Annilisa Roslar, Sister." 
 Finally, a bust of a heroic-looking man reading "Ervin Roslar, Hero." 
 

It is upon this last bust that sits a very elegant wig of hair. That is all well and good, but considering that none of the depictions of Roslar have anything even remotely like this, it seems curious. The wig not only doesn't fit any depictions, but seems wildly out of character for the heroic man.
DrK
Grum glances back at the others as he watches the archway. He nods approvingly as the mites are squashed and put down.   ”Do you have ‘em where ye be from?”   he asks as he watches their destruction. He also nods to Sal and Camael   ”Aye lad. Ye take all the time ye want. We be in no rush.”  

Helena herself looks at the busts and starts to wonder,   ”This whole tomb seems dedicated to Roslar. I wonder… has someone dropped us into a tomb to the man. He was accounted a great hero.Although…”   she says reaching out to stroke the hair,   ”The statue suggests he was more for the moustache than the hair.”  
lostsole31
  "Yeah,"   says Sal.   "Well, there are if you believe the lore. We haven't experienced much in the way of fairy-folk, as most of the legends are in Europe. Charles Perrault wrote a lot of so-called 'fairy-tales' ... but like the Grimm tales, they were made more palatable and many of the tales are much darker. I guess, if a Frenchman would be the one to write the literal book on the fey ... why not French? It just seems weird that you speak English, and the fey folk speak French."  
 Surprise Round ... 

As Helena reaches out to  stroke the wig, the wig rears up, and looks like it tries to grab her  hand, but Helena recoils in shock just in time as it plops to the floor  at her feet, writhing angrily!

 Begin Round One ...

R1T32:    "Animate hair!"   calls Sal as he draws his knife.   "You have to cut it!"  

He slashes it for  4 .

 R1T16:   Helena , you still have your bow in hand. What do you do? It is in the same square as you now.
DrK
Helena squeaks in shock as the hair leaps out at her,    "AH... what in the nine realms"   she mutters as she hops back away from it, dancing away as elegantly as she could even as she smashes at it with her buckler

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Swift: Silver crane stance
standard: Buckler bash (risky attack)  (1d20+6)[ 12 ]  dam  (1d3+3)[ 5 ] 
Move: tumble 15ft to avoid AoO; acrobatics  (1d20+9)[ 11 ] 
(moving W, SW, W from where she is now)
 
lostsole31
 R1T16:  Helena squeaks in shock as the hair leaps out at her,    "AH... what in the nine realms"    she mutters as she hops back away from it, dancing away as elegantly as  she could even as she smashes at it with her buckler, but the Tiny head  of hair is agile and darts out of the way, though she realizes once she is done that the thing is too small to present a mobility threat.

 R1T10:   Grum , what do you do?
DrK
Grum spins around and looks at the tiny mop of hair.   ”I ain’t ‘fraid of no hair. Nae be a beard.”   he jokes as he leans into the massive blade and swipes down hard.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

As he has a 10ft reach from being in Titanic swings form so just attack from where I am
Swift: enter Vigilant Keeper stance
Standard: Risky attack  (1d20+8)[ 22 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 18 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R1T10:  Grum spins around and looks at the tiny mop of hair.   ”I ain’t ‘fraid of no hair. Nae be a beard,”   he jokes as he leans into the massive blade and swipes down hard, splattering the thing such that it is no longer moving.

 Combat Ends! 
DrK
Grum kicks the unmoving hair across the room after killing it.   ”stupid thing. What manner of beast be living hair.”   Helena likewise nods,   ”I agree. I should have guessed when I saw the hair. Roslar was famed for a moustache.”  

With the hair defeated Grum looks towards the next chamber to the north.   “Ye be reet?”   he looks to the men for confirmation. If they are ready he’ll advance 20ft into the next room
lostsole31
  "Hold on!"   says Sal when asked, which conditionally stops Grum.   "I want to take minute to look over the animate hair remains, and we still need to see if Drake will shake off what the mite did to him."  
DrK
Grum nods,   ”Aye lad. Ye take yer time.”   Grum nods as he waits for them to examine the remains and waiting for what must a be a spell to wear off.
lostsole31
Drake will observe Sal take out some tools and gingerly pick apart the hair-creature. While Sal is easily the expert here, Drake surprises any onlookers by being helpful with the odd bit of lore to assist his younger brother.

Sal takes some time to look it over and says,   "Okay, as I figured. So, 'animate hair' is as good a thing as I can possibly name it. It doesn't have any of the normal biological markers for most creatures, even the really weird and far out ones. It's actually incredibly simple, surprisingly. In hunter lore, we would call this a type of 'ooze' or a 'blob.' They're protoplasms of incredible size, and while they're remarkably biodiverse, this one is really an outlier. That's real keratin extruded by the hidden main body to look like hair; actually, being keratin it doesn't 'look like' .... I guess we should say that it 'is' hair.

"So most of the blobbies as a rule have no mind to speak of - so no advanced cunning, tactics, but that also makes them immune to some specialized attacks that say, a witch might use. In fact, they don't have developed senses like we do, and yet their ability to sense their surroundings on a primitive level actually exceeds our own ... a sort of 'blindsense.' Not quite as much information gathered as say, our eyesight, but it only needs what it needs to hunt and move. Of course, that also means that they can't be bothered by anything requiring an effect to overload the retina or the like.

"This guy, however, is special. So, it has these tendrils here you might see that can actually help them connect to a host and communicate on a really simple level. Not telepathy, but basic drives and motivations, and that is backed up by the fact that this particular blobby is the rare one of its breed ... it has a ganglial mass that is quite intelligent and good at problem-solving, on the order of a toddler or small child.

"So, like the ostvites do with bone, though that makes the ostovites more of a tool-user ... the animate hair seems to be able to get a host by putting itself on the head and attaching tendrils and also riding the host around. I don't know the effects on the host nor over what period of time, but I imagine it can't be good."  

During Sal's explanation, Drake seems to be calm again. In addition, the break was also enough for Grum's  stone giant's girdle  to return to full fortification.

The party is now ready...
DrK
Grum glances at Gwen and Helena,   "Aye Sal. It be a beast, be good that it be dead."   Helena rests a hand on the dwarf's shoulder and looks with some confusion at Sal.   "Strange words Sal. Are these common terms in your home place? Protoplasm, biodiverse, keratin... what do these words mean?"   As she looks back arond the cave she looks at the busts one more time   "Rosar's family. He was a famed hero, its a large tomb for him."  

Before she can mutter or say more Grum points to the north through the opening   "Lets go, I want tae' be getting out of this bleedin' tomb."   Flanked by the twin motes of light he stomps into the centre of the next room, sword in hand and at the ready.
lostsole31
Grum finds that he actually has to hustle to get to the center of this massive room, larger even then the one center room downstairs. This cavernous chamber has two doors to the north and two to the south. The west end of the room contains an altar with a symbol of a winged rapier burning with bright light. Several tiles on the floor in front of the altar bear large symbols. The east end of the room contains a large crack, defacing a mural of armored figures staring resolutely forward, with beams radiating behind them. Several corpses of small, bug-eyed blue creatures slump in three piles throughout this room.

  "Common words, ha!"   Drake laughs as moves just inside the room, but no farther, to get a sense of the room.

In the meantime, Sal begins to answer while walking to the arched doorway.   "My brother's right. They aren't 'common' words among the general populace, but tend to be more common among the educated or scientists..."  
  "Wait, hold on!"   says Drake in alarm.

Grum sees it too. From each of the three piles of bodies, some type of insect or similar critter that was snacking on corpses makes itself known by clambering atop their individual prizes.

 Begin Round One ...

R1T26:  Sal darts right past  his brother and into the room, taking a guarded position by Grum. He  then concentrates briefly, looking around and calls out,   "We  have what appear to be three giant cockroaches - mindless vermin ...  sensitive to daylight-level illumination ... they're not that tough, but  they are hard to put down."  
 R1T20:   Gwennid takes wing and flies past those at the door and gets a little  bit of height (5') before a quick visual. She sends a shadowy beam  towards the cockroach on the easternmost pile (Red), striking it for   3 cold  . That cold is not from ice and raw energy, but seemed more like the cold of death and the grave.

 R1T19:   The cockroach on the center pile to the south charges down its hill of  food at Drake. The cockroach is the size of a working dog, not a larger  mastiff or riding dog. As it skittered forth to snap at him, it greedily  clicked its filth-slicked mandibles.

 R1T17:   Helena , what do you do?
DrK
Helena's face cracks slightly into a look of near disgust at the massive bugs as a shiver runs down her spine. As the dog sized bug runs towards Drake she steps to the right and peers through the door to fire past Drake point blank with a flaming arrow

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

free: 5ft step to the east
swift: Stance of piercing rays
Full: Rapid shot (including point blank shot) at blue roach
shot 1  (1d20+6)[ 12 ]  dam  (1d8+3)[ 6 ]  +  (1d6)[ 6 ]  fire
shot 2  (1d20+6)[ 18 ]  dam  (1d8+3)[ 6 ]  +  (1d6)[ 3 ]  fire
(-2 for rapid shot included, +1 for point blank shot included)
 
lostsole31
 R1T17:  Helena's face cracks slightly into a look of near-disgust at the massive  bugs as a shiver runs down her spine. As the dog sized bug runs towards  Drake, she steps to the right and peers through the door to fire past  Drake point blank with flaming arrows. The first arrow completely misses, but the second hits for  6 +  3 fire  .

 R1T13:  Red comes down off of its yummy dinner plate of dead mite corpses to snap at Gwennid.

 R1T10:   Camael moves to the doorway and jumps through, moving surprisingly  acrobatically for a man in a "trenchcoat." He copies his pattern done so  many times now ... attack full power and miss, and then attack with a  faster, wilder swing that through pure luck connects. In this case, he  completely spatters himself, Drake, and Helena in the guts and gore of  the recently departed, who even now is singing with the choir of  cockroaches.

 R1T6:   Grum , what do you do?
DrK
Grum sees one with Gwen and the strange outlanders near the eastern bug and thinks it’s covered. With a great roar he charges on stumpy legs towards the western bug on the far side of the room and swings down with a great hacking chop

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Charge west at green. Stop 10ft away using reach from Titan sword form

Risky attack + charge  (1d20+10)[ 20 ] 
Dam  (2d6+10)[ 17 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R1T6:  Grum sees one with Gwen and the strange outlanders near the eastern bug  and thinks it’s covered. With a great roar he charges on stumpy legs  towards the western bug on the far side of the room and swings down with  a great hacking chop that cuts deep into it for  17 + disabled + staggered . How it is still moving is beyond Grum.

 R1T5:   Drake takes a quick look at the beasties for his own purposes. He steps  up to Red and overswings against the small creature, hitting himself  with the very point of his own machete for (  1 bleed  ). He grunts more in wounded pride and frustration than pain.

 R1T3:  Green stumbles down its meal pile, snapping its mandibles at Grum.

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T26:  Sal falls back to the west and takes some type of stylized shot that hits Red for  7 + staggered .

 R2T20:    Though their flying style is clumsy, yet Gwennid is able to hover with  big flaps of their plant-like wings, immediately reforming their green  light spear and stabbing the creature for  11 + disabled + staggered .

 R2T17:   Helena , what do you do?

Red on deck, Camael in the hole ...
DrK
Helena sees the three beasts almost destroyed by her allies and holds off wasting any more arrows. Advancing a little she walks into the room ready for anything sense to appear

 
 Spoiler: OOC  


Take total defence action
Advance 10ft into the room
 
lostsole31
 R2T17:  Helena sees the three beasts almost destroyed by her allies and holds  off wasting any more arrows. Advancing a little she walks into the room  ready for anything sense to appear.

 R2T13:  Sal  was right, these things are hard to put down even though they look like  they can barely do anything. Either because of Drake's attack, or  because his bleeding spurs on the cockroach, it bites at him furiously,  catching the man in the chest for  4 .

 R2T10:   Camael masterfully staunches Drake's bleeding with mundane, but  effective, medical knowledge. He then moves around the eastern side of  the pile of mites to threaten Red from a different angle.

 R2T6:   Grum 's turn!

Drake on deck, Green in the hole ...
DrK
Grum steps back a tiny bit in surprise at the fact it still lives and chips down again hard before stepping back trailing the blade behind him.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Standard: Risky strike  (1d20+8)[ 26 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 19 ] 
Swift: Enter Vigilant Keeper Stance
Free: 5ft step back

If it advances at Grum through the difficult terrain and provokes an AoO with 10ft reach
AoO  (1d20+8)[ 23 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 15 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R2T6:  Grum steps back a tiny bit in surprise at the fact it still lives and  chips down again hard - completely splattering the bug this time - before stepping back, trailing the blade behind  him.

 R2T5:  Drake steps directly under Gwennid to finish off the last cockroach.

 Combat Ends! 
DrK
Grum bends down wipes the massive blade on his trouser leg to clean off the chunks of splattered bug.   ”they be a big bug here.”   Looking around Grum sees the blood on Drake,   “Ye be reet?”   he asks Drake as he looks at the mess of the bug.

Helena standing in the middle of the room holds up her buckler and recharges the light on it.   ”How curious.”   She says advancing slowly towards the western end of the room and the strange stuff there.
lostsole31
Drake blinks, taking a second to process Grum's patois and then nods cheerily and says,   "Oh, yeah. It gave it's best, and it barely hurt. Oh, thanks Cam, for stopping my goof before I actually felt it. Yeah, we're just not used to fighting things that are so small. Most of the time it's people ... dead people ... but people. And some of the other monsters we've seen became the predators to mankind because they moved among humans undetected ... again, looking like people."  

Sal joins Helena at the altar, which seems to honor Arazni, the Red Crusader, upon which currently burns a flame without warmth or fuel.

The square in front of the altar consists of nine 2-foot-square stones arranged in a 3 x 3 grid. The words “Follow Along Roslar’s Devotion” are carved around the grid. The nine symbols are arranged as follows. Row 1 is the northernmost row; the tiles in each row are listed from east (closest to the mural) to west (closest to the altar).
 
 Row 1: A mailed fist, a tree, and a tower. 
 Row 2: A heart, a rapier, and a skull. 
 Row 3: A horse’s head, a round helm, and a pair of feathery wings. 
 
DrK
Helena squats down to look at the tiles and the looks at the others.   Curious. Signs of the gods.”   she says and stares at the tiles trying to figure out which ones are relevant.

 
 Spoiler: OOC  


Does her knowledge of  religion help her?
 


Grum looks around as Helena studies the tiles.   ”Be careful lass. There be nothing nice here.”    As Drake speaks Grum’s brow furrows,   “I still be curious to know where ye be from.”   watching Drake carefully.
lostsole31
  "Kansas,"   says Drake,   "just like the classic rock band."  

Helena will find that knowledge alone won't help, but that she will need to take what she's seen and understood so far in this tomb to try to figure things out.
DrK
Grum floats a mote above the scene to help Helena as he maintains a careful watch on the area with his sword held aloft. Helena nods her thanks as she squats by the three rows of tiles on the floor.   "Curious"   she murmurs to herself as she watches the pattern.   "Do you think it is the patterns that are associated with Roslar or his favoured Arazni?"   she asks the room at large, nodding she points at the three of the tiles,   "Symbols of the Red Crusader, Her wings, her heart and her red rapier."   . Glancing at the tiles and looking at the burning brazier she looks about,   "Do we touch them do you think or explore further?"  

Grum for his part shrugs,  "Now or later. It do be making no difference."   Looking at the tiles he nods in vague agreement.   "I do be ina greement taht we do see some of these fer the Red Lady herself. And Roslar seems to have been mighty sweet on her. Lads?"   he asks to the brother and Caelm, a nod of the head to include Gwen as well.
lostsole31
  "Uh, I don't think we're coming back later if we can find a way out of here,"   says Drake.

  "Yeah, let's try to figure this out ... but that really is more up to you two, because we're not from here,"   says Sal.   "But something like this usually indicates there is something hidden to be discovered. And right now, we need all the discovery we can to figure out what has happened to us and why."  
DrK
Helen gulps and then nods and steps lightly to her feet. Praying briefly for some  guidance  from the Inheritor before nodding.   "Gwen suggests we are already dead, what else could happen then"  .. she says with a sickly smile before skipping forwards across the feathered wings, rapier and heart crossing towards the altar and offering a praise to the Red Lady.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


cast guidance before stepping on the tiles
 
lostsole31
  "Wait, stop!"   says Sal urgently enough so that Helena's foot hovers less than an inch above the feathered wings tile.

What does Helena do? Does she have confidence and faith in her choice? or does she hold off?
DrK
Helena freezes and turns,   ”what’s wrong Sal? The red crusader had wings,we’ve seen it in the walls here. What do you think we should do?”  
lostsole31
  "What tiles were you going to step on?"   he asks.
DrK
Helena points the three out.   ”The feathered wings, the heart and the rapier. I’d associate these rather than anything else with Arazni.”  

She points at the altar where the brazier burns that has the Red Crusader’s iconography.   “This whole tomb seems to venerate her. Strange as the Roslar fought in the crusade following Iomedae and under Aroden’s banner.”  
lostsole31
  "She's right, Sal,"   says Drake.   "Everywhere we go, we see these things on the walls."  

Sal thinks,   "No, wait. This tomb doesn't venerate Arazni generally. The clue says 'Follow Roslar's Devotion.' Well, this tomb is more about Roslar's fixation on Arazni, almost to a weird romantic degree it seems to me, than proper veneration of Arazni. Well, devotion begins from the heart ... traveling through the earthly motif of the rapier ... going to the more ephemeral god-thing that your Arazni. Devotion goes to the god from Roslar in this case, rather than the god's love being bestowed on the mortal."  

He looks to Helena.   "I agree on the tiles, but my recommendation is to reverse them, realizing there  is  an order."  
DrK
Helen pauses and and then looks around the room before nodding.   "Okay Sal. I shall trust you."   she says as she moves to delicately follow the order suggested by Sal with the heart then rapier and then wings... As she steps forward she offers prayers to both Arazni and Iomedae
lostsole31
The altar swings aside to reveal a hidden panel!
DrK
Grum looks in surprise as the panel swings open,   ”Watch out!”   he calls gruffly   “We dinnae know what may jump out.”  

Helena hops off the tiles, a squeal of excitement   ”You were right Sal!”   she says happily, before scurrying to the panel to peer inside
lostsole31
Opening the panel, there is a mithral breastplate and a masterwork steel shield ... both emblazoned with Arazni's symbol of the red-winged rapier!
DrK
As Helena pulls out the equipment she lifts it high up and shows it to the others marveling   "My word. its so light, what a magnificent set of armour. "   She looks around to the others,   "Its strong, durable and light. Would any of you like to wear it to keep yourself safe?"   she asks as she looks at Sal, Drake and Caelm. She taps her own robes,   "I cannot wear armour, it interferes with my castings."  

Grum trundles over, his heavy metal second skin clanking.   "That be nice work. Almost be as good as the dwarven make. Fine fer' a human make."   Tapping his own prodigious mountain plate he shakes his head.   "Too thin fer the likes of me. Should fit one of you lads eh?""   he suggests.  If they get changed or discuss he'll stand in the centre of the chamber keeping watch before he looks around,   "Where do ye fancy?"   he asks, nodding to the openings in the NE, SW and NW corners (assuming the SE is where they came from.
lostsole31
The men, even Gwennid, marvel over the workmanship of both items, but especially the strange metal, but it is Camael who says,   "The metal of this breastplate is known in most worlds as 'mithral,' 'mithril,' and the like. Most of our angel blades and armor are made out of mithral ... half the weight of steel and twice as durable."  

The brothers are fascinated by it, but in the end it turns out that the only person in the party who can make use of it or the shield is Camael.  He does ask for help from Grum for putting it on, though. "It's been awhile since I've been in a form that wore armor. Certainly never while wearing this vessel."

Assuming Grum helps him, once done Camael is decked out, but the trench coat still manages to go over the armor that is over what the boys call a "business suit."

  "Damn, Cam,"   marvels Drake with a whistle.   "You look bad ass. The mace, the armor, and the shield. It's like this place was made for you."  
DrK
Grum smiles behind his beard offering a slight salute from his blade.   ”Shall we start at this end?”   he suggests as he stomps through the room and heads through the archway into the room at the North East corner
lostsole31
As Grum is heading over to the southeastern door ... which was ever so slightly ajar ...  

Surprise Round ...

S28:  Sal rushes over behind Grum and yells,   "Grum, look out!"  
 S21-6:   The door is swung wide open, and a tiny dart bounces off of Grum's  armor. There is also a squeaky voice from within that sounds like  spellcasting.

 S8:  Camael takes the breech position at the door.

 End Surprise Round, Begin Round ...

R1T28:   Sal readjusts his position and makes what seems like an impossible shot  against an enemy in a good cover position on the other side of the  doorway for  5 mod . Yet something about that shot seems to deflate or nearly imperceptibly fatigue Sal for his effort.

 R1T21:   "Purple" backs away from Camael yet concentrates on the dwarf behind  him. Grum feels the initial wave of panic and fear wash over him, and  almost succumbs to it, were it not for his dwarven hardiness which helps  him rally and throw off the effect.

 R1T19:   Seeing another fight break out, but not knowing the danger, Gwennid  casts a defensive spell on herself that causes a shimmering several  inches around her to momentarily appear before nothing is again seen.  She then breaks due east while flying several feet off of the ground.

 R1T16:  "Pink" steps back from Camael as well and concentrates on him .... and he is completely nonplussed by the effort.

 R1T13:  Drake hustles while unsheathing his machete again, and moves just inside the next room.   "We got a trio of mites in here, and one of them to the west looks different than the others."  
 R1T12:   Helena , what do you do?
DrK
Helena mutters a brief   ”More trouble!”   before hustling to join the others pulling out her bow and concentrating on the her prayers to the inheritor as the bow pulses with silver fire. If she sees a mite she’ll launch an arrow

 
 Spoiler: OOC  


Move 30ft due east
Enter stance of piercing rays
If she sees a target Silver strike
 (1d20+7)[ 10 ]  or  (1d20+7)[ 23 ]   dam  (1d8+2)[ 9 ]  +  (1d6)[ 6 ]  fire
 
lostsole31
 R1T12:  Helena mutters a brief,    ”More trouble!”     before hustling to join the others while pulling out her bow and  concentrating on the her prayers to the Inheritor as the bow pulses with  silver fire. After only 10' she sees a sliver of a mite deep in the  room, but that's enough as her arrow streaks with silvery flame to blast  a hole through the center of the mite.

 R1T11:   Grum , what do you do?
DrK
Grum let’s out a triumphant   ”Great shot!”   as he watches the arrow slam into a mite. With his massive blade held aloft on an offensive style he barrels into the room to close on the nearest mite and chops down with brutal efficiency.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Move into room to the closest Mite. Currently with 10ft reach due to titanic swings but will stand adjacent to the mite
Swift: vigilant keepers stance
Standard: risky attack  (1d20+8)[ 28 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 14 ] 
 
DrK
 
 Spoiler: OOC  

Critical roll  (1d20)[ 9 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R1T11:  Grum let’s out a triumphant   ”Great shot!”    as he watches the arrow slam into a mite. With his massive blade held  aloft on an offensive style he barrels into the room to close on the  nearest mite and chops down with brutal efficiency. Pink tried to lash  out with a dagger but got completely murdered for its efforts. One nite  remains to the west, adjacent to Grum.

 R1T8:  Camael comes in, and around to ring the bell of a very self-important-looking mite for  15 mod + 1 INT + sickened .

 R1T6:   As badly brained as he is, instead of returning with suicidal ferocity,  the injured mite falls to its knees and speaks in a strange language.  It holds up its insect-shell crown to indicate its surrender.

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T28:  Sal heads into the room, and readies his bow to shoot, but seems to recognize the body language of a surrendering enemy.

 R2T19:  Gwennid heads into the room, but moves to the far eastern end.

 R2T13:  Drake moves past Grum, and then lines up his machete to strike.

 R2T12:  Helena, what do you do?

Grum on deck, Camael in the hole ...
DrK
Seeing the tiny feeble creature drop to its knees and seeing her companions efficiently chopping down the others Helena's heart goes out to the pathetic looking creature. She shouts out a near panicked   "Hold, don't hit it.. its surrdenering."   before advancing some 10ft towards the door and asking the same questions in Taldan and Dwarven.   "What manner of beast are you and how did you get here."  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Move 10ft north towards the entrance into the room.
Standard: "Talk"
 
DrK
Grum happy with the savage chopping down of one of the blue vermin can feel Gorum's song rising and spins around as the last of mites lays before him. Raising his sword he hears Helena shouting and pauses, still hlding the sword up, ready to strike if it should prove false.   "Dinnae tempt me scum"   he growls in dwarven at it.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Ready to (risky) strike if it attacks an of his allies  (1d20+8)[ 12 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 14 ] 
 
lostsole31
 Initiative Ends ... 

The mite doesn't understand Helena's speech.

Gwennid speaks in Sylvan, but then conveys,   "He only knows enough Sylvan to say that he doesn't speak Sylvan."  
DrK
Helena nods thanks to Gwen and will try greeting the small ugly beast in all the languages she knows   ”We mean you no harm we are merely passing through.”   she tries to say it at least convey through mime if the blue gremlin like creature can’t understand her.

Grum for his part steps back and sweeps his gaze around the chamber looking for danger and scanning for anything magical with a simple prayer

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Helena will try a linguistics or bluff if needed to try and communicate
Grum scans the room with detect magic
 
lostsole31
The shelves along the walls of this room are crammed with ornamental weapons, tapestries, and trophies. Most have been torn or broken, and several lie smashed on the floor. The room’s only exit is a door to the southwest.

Roslar was an accomplished swordsman and won several tournaments in his youth. This room showcases the awards and accolades he received, including large but mostly valueless items such as plaques, ceremonial (and therefore useless) weapons, tapestries, and urns.

Magic detection will note that the mite has a pouch with a few faint auras in it, as well as below.

The wealth that the mites seemed to have collected thus far includes 5 pounds of silver, ivory, and gold leaf worth ~130 gp.

The mites missed a high-quality leather bandolier (20 gp value) rolled around four vials with faint conjuration auras that Sal will easily ID as (4)  potions of cure moderate wounds .

Meanwhile, the mite chief knows none of the party's languages, and the party doesn't know what he's saying, either.
DrK
Grum scoops up the gold and tosses the bandolier to Sal.  "'' Ere lad. Ye be keeping this safe fer us."   As he finishes the looting he backs slowly towards the door pointing the sword at mite, smirking at the strange little mite's crown.  " Ye be still. Stay "  he barks as he heads to the archway back into the main room.

Helena looks at th creature sadly and also does a waving motion, motioning to the far (NE) corner of the room.   "Stay there, don't follow"   she adds, looking at Gwen,   "Can you try speaking to it again[?"B] [/B]  she asks their plant-like friend. In the main room she glances back at the room with the sad looking mite king.   "This whole place seems like such a grand edifice to Roslar. Yet I feel its almost too much, it doesn't seem very humble"   she adds the last sadly.

Grum shakes his head,   "If the man be iron he be smelting himself tae' steel"   he adds sarcastically. Before nodding to the opening in the NW corner of the room and stomping that way.
lostsole31
Sal puts the bandolier on for now.

  "No, why?"   asks Gwennid before Helena walks out the door.
DrK
Helena looks at Gwen,   ”It seemed to understand you a little. Can you tell it to stay please.”   she asks with a smile

Grum, with a dwarven patience looks at them.   ”Leave it be. We need be getting out of ‘ere.”  
lostsole31
Gwennid simply leaves the room with everyone else, and closes the door.    "I think you meant the other mites. They spoke Sylvan, but that one didn't."  

Leaving the mite chieftain mercifully behind a closed door, the party follows a grumpy Grum to the next door.
DrK
Helena pauses as she follow Grum, looking back with a momentary look of sadness.   "That poor creature. What will it do all alone in here.."   she wonders aloud as she clutches her bow and follows the others.

Grum shakes his head,   "Dinnae turn into a wee softie now lass. It be a vermin, too stupid to have long thoughts. Better we killed it, but you seemed a wee bit squeamish. Now get ready."   he adds the las as he sends the motes of light into the chamber and follows through the door.
lostsole31
Murals around this room depict several weapons, including many different  rapiers and several lances. Each weapon depicted has a plaque next to  it. A door stands in the south wall, and stairs occupy an alcove to the  west. There is an animated creature in here that looks like a robed  skeleton made of an exotic metal. It appears to have suffered recent  damage. It stares at Grum in a similar level of blank shock. It has a  short sword in one of its metal bony hands.

 Begin Round One ...

R1T28:   Again and again, it no longer seems lucky, but actually creepy .... as  Sal seems to respond to something he can't see and there's no sign of  anything having happened.  He hustles past Grum into the room beyond to  see what there is.   "Listen! I know  what you are. You're a celedon, right? But a weird bony one and not like  an ideal human. Everything here has been trying to kill us. Will you?"  
 R1T23:   Hearing Sal's entreaty, though not knowing what he faces, Gwennid  passes Grum to stand next to Sal for some backup, but doesn't bring  forth their light-spear.

 R1T22:   Helena , what do you do?
DrK
Helena looks through the doorway, her bow in hand, an arrow nocked. At Sal's words he freezes,   "Good day. I am Helena Varvatos. What should we call you?""   she asks in a calm confident tone, although the bow remains ready in her hand.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Walk to a position ~15ft from the creature
 
lostsole31
 R1T22:  Helena freezes at Sal's words, but then moves  through the doorway, her bow in hand, an arrow nocked. Stopping a safe  distance from the creature she asks in a calm, confident tone,   "Good day. I am Helena Varvatos. What should we call you?""   Her bow remains ready in her hand.

 R1T18:  Camael delays, not wanting to have too many people on hand in what seems like a diplomatic attempt.

 R1T14:   Grum , what do you do?
DrK
The burly dwarf holds, his sword in hand he watches and waits. He moves into an aggressive posture but does nothing else.   "Shout if it be causing trouble."  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Swift: Move into Vigliant Defender stance

Nothing else this round
 
lostsole31
 R1T14:  The burly dwarf holds his sword in hand, watching and waiting. He moves into an aggressive posture but does nothing else.   "Shout if it be causing trouble."  
 R1T10:  Drake doesn't add to the noise, but does go into the room and takes an aggressive posture with his machete.

 R1T5:  An androgynous voice issues from the robed skeleton.   "I would have fought you as is my duty, but I am wounded and cannot defeat you all. I surrender,"   they say as they drop their short sword.   "Besides, strangely, you seem to know something of me."  
 Initiative Ends! 
DrK
Helena relaxes and lowers her bow.   "I accept your surrender"   she says with a wry grin,   "Can you please tell us where we are and how a creature such as you came to be in here? We mean you no harm, we are merely trying to leave"    she adds the last with a nervous smile as she look around the others

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

She'll attempt diplomacy
 


As Helena speaks Grum enters the room and paces around looking at the weapons.   "Weapons. Nice ones eh"   he looks around to see if any are useful, still keeping an eye on the odd metallic skeleton as he does so.
lostsole31
  "How did you even get in here? Can't you leave the way you came?"   asks the figure.
DrK
Helena looks at figure and gesture towards the archway back to the main chamber.   ”None of us know where ‘here’ is. We awoke in the coffins on the lower floor. We don’t know where this tomb is or where the exit is. We fought disgusting ostovites and little mites on our travels and I think found one of your kin slain by the ostovites.”  

She pauses at the last   “I’m sorry if you were close. We just seek to escape this tomb. We have assumed it’s a tomb for Roslar as he seems to be on all the walls.”    she a points to the weapons and murals   ”But as to where in Golarion it is we are lost. Could you help us leave?”  
lostsole31
  "I am stationed here by psychopomp decree. I am Number Three,"   they say.   "I believe a great hero is buried in the tomb, along with his retainers and assistants, though I only know Roslar's story from the statues and carvings around the tomb. I can describe the tomb's layout to you, if you'd like. Alas, I do not know what a Goh-lahr-ee-on is."  
DrK
Grum grunts an amused   "Number 3 eh... How many numbers are there in this tomb? We dinnae want to bump into more of your kind"  . But shushes as Helena waves him to silence and goes back to studying the weapons on the walls.

Helena turns back to the Celedon.   "Thank you number 3. How many others of you are stationed in this tomb? And, I guess, would you able to show us the way out. Then we shall not be trespassing in your sacred space and we'll make our way home from there? Please tell and show more of the tomb. "  
lostsole31
  "I will tell you the layout of the tomb, and you will find your way out,"   says Number Three.   "There is much filth in this tomb, and that is what I must clean. I do not know how many are stationed at this tomb, but if one of my superiors comes to check on my progress, I will tell them about your kind treatment of me and what happened to my kinsman."  
DrK
Helena nods,   "My thanks. The layout of the tomb would be very valuable to us. We have also removed much of the taint. All of the ostovites downstairs we found downstairs we destroyed, we saw every room so its likely they are all slain. Similar so far we've explored much of this level and slain many mites and roaches. We can do our best to remove the taint on our way out. "    she pauses looking at the others and then continuing,   "At least to me, Roslar was a hero of the Shining Crusade so a hero that I hold dear to my heart and my faith. I would be honoured to remove the taint."  

Grum snorts,   "I dinnae care for Roslar, but them ostovites were evil and the mites are vermin. Gorum loves the thrill of battle so I be happy to kick anything else oot this tomb"  
lostsole31
  "You go up these stairs here to a small room. The door to the south opens up into a massive chamber,"   recounts Number Three.   "Largest room in the tomb, it's the Grand Hall. There is a door to the south across from the door you enter from that leads to the font, but you will need to go well to the east and exit out that door. There is a large retaining wall going north-south, so you won't initially be able to see that door. But just going around that wall to the north or south will bring you to the entry."  
DrK
As it’s speaks of the way out Grum interrupts at the end ponying south at the last chamber on this level they had not explored.   ”Ay, what lies in the room through there?”   he asks gesturing with a plate mailed hand to the room through the chamber due south (the room to the SW off the main chamber).

He does grunt a thanks though for the directions to escape.
lostsole31
  "In that room,"   says Number Three,   "is a crystal with an angry face that scowls at us. It seems really upset with me when I clean that room."  
DrK
Grum looks  to Gwen and the brothers.   "Well, do we head upstairs and find our way out  or check this room with a strange orb in it?"    H waits patiently, although his posture clearly suggests a desire to proceed to the stairsy o
udwards
lostsole31
All of the NPCs want to follow Grum out of here, except Camael. When asked, almost sheepishly he says,   "I am not comfortable with the possibility that a spirit has been trapped. I wish to investigate to see if that's the case, and what the best course of action would be after that."  
DrK
Helena slowly nods.   "I would agree with Camael. If a spirit is trapped we should ensure it is not suffering."   Grum for his part just shrugs and nods at the strange creature,   "We'll be back in a few minutes aye."   he offers before waving the sword a little to shepherd the others around and stompnig south back into the main chamber and straight across to the portak on the other side.
lostsole31
Grum is at the portak on the other side, with the party lined up mostly behind him, but keeping clear of the altar puzzle tiles.
DrK
Readied with the others Grum looks back,   "Don't touch anything that glows aye?"   he suggests in a gruff voice before striding confidently into the room, sword ready for any trouble.
lostsole31
The walls of this room are carved with strange sigils in broad circles. The center of the room contains a stone pillar with a large wedge of crystal atop it; the pillar and the floor around it are covered with more of the strange glyphs. Curled up next to the pillar is the husk of a small blue humanoid. The only door in this room leads out to the north.
DrK
As Grum pulls up Helena steps past him and slowly approaches to within about 10ft of the orb, staying further away than the dead husk on the floor. She eyes it carefully lookimg at it with her magical senses as she sees what manner of power she can guess it may contain.   ”Sal, Caelm do you know what this is?”   she asks them, not expecting Grum, Drake or Gwen to know as they all seem more physically inclined
lostsole31
Helena has to be closer to start, but then opens datum to go farther in the room.

  "It's Camael,"   Cam corrects Helena as he comes into the room and stands in the opposite corner.

Sal enters and ends up between the two.

With Sal's impressive knowledge of esoterica both arcane and spiritual, and Helena's own theological training, together they both recognize that this room contains several binding runes around the crystal in the room's center.

  "If a hero like your Roslar imprisoned whatever is in that gem ... and if that gem killed a likely curious creature like the mite,"   says Camael,   "I'm sure it is prudent - now that I see what's here and given what you've said - that we should leave it."  
DrK
Grum looks at Sal, Helena and Camael,   "What would happen if we broke it?"   he asks hefting the massive blade in his hands
lostsole31
  "I imagine that you would release whatever is bound,"   says Sal,   "and I doubt that helps us get out of here if we did that."  
DrK
Grum shrugs,   "Aye well. Up them stairs it be then,"   he suggests,   "Releasing wee beasties nae a good idea"   he barks as he starts to head towards the stairs.

Helena looks at the orb with a bit of desire before shaking her head.   "Probably for the best to leave it well alone. As you say Grum, best we head up and see if we can forge an escape from this place."   
lostsole31
Everyone is fine with that, and departs the spooky crystal room with the warning of a dead mite, falling in place behind Grum as he's ready to go up the stairs. Grum heads up the stairs, and the stairs open right up into a long room that has a single bench against the eastern wall. Several plates of gleaming metal hang from wires in the ceiling, like barding in the shape of a fearsome metal bull. The plates twist like wind chimes, creating a dull clanking. Stairs lead steeply downward to the west, and a single door stands in the southern wall.

What do you do?
DrK
Grum starts a bit at the metallic bull dangling from the ceiling before he beckons the others.   "Chimes fer a bairn eh?"   he suggests as advances towards the metal structure to have a closer look.

Helena trailing behind looks around the walls of the room for clues as to why the bull is there,   "A strange thing, did Roslar kill a bull I wonder?"   she muses out loud cursing herself for not reading more on the man before she had been deployed to Roslar's coffer.
lostsole31
Grum, you think you hear something ... chewing slowly ... inside the bull's hide?

For all, there is a gleaming silver sword of fine make pushed into the hide of the bull.
DrK
Grum points at the metal hulk,   ”There be a sword wedged in one sheet and I can ken chewing frae one. Make ye ready.”   he suggests, pausing a few (I.e 6) seconds before bashing the nearest metal hard with the shield to send them all clattering and rattling

Helena nods at Grum’s warming heading to the far north of the room and drawing her bow, nocking an arrow.
lostsole31
Well, that did it! A creature wriggles free, falling to the floor with a  squelch, and instantly looks agitated, its little mandibles clacking.

 Begin Round One ... 
 R1T20:  Drake looks at the Small creature.   "It's an overgrown horn caterpillar. Just a big bug with no mind. Watch out for those bristles,"   he says nervously with his machete,   "they can cut you if you're up close trying to hit it. Here goes nothin'."  

He attacks, but his nervousness with the horn caterpillar's bristles means his attack is too cautious and misses.

 R1T17:    "It has a web and poison, too,"   adds Sal,   "so there's that."   He steps back,   "Here, Helena, I gave you some room so you can shoot safely."  
 R1T16:   Grum , what do you do?
DrK
Grum growls under his breath at the cramped space and just tries to chop the vermin in half

 
 Spoiler: OOC  


Risky attack  (1d20+8)[ 14 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 17 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R1T16:  Grum growls under his breath at the cramped  space and just tries to chop the vermin in half. His sword just barely  manages to find its way past the spongy, pliant dermus of the  caterpillar, delivering a whopping  17 .

 R1T10:  Gwennid takes wing and flies over Helena's head  to the northeast corner. The caterpillar makes a poor attempt at an  attack with the fey so close in the air. Forming the light-spear, they  just barely catch the caterpillar for   3 light  . They just barely managed to keep from getting stabbed by bristles.

 R1T9:  At the same time, Camael comes up from the other side. He makes solid contact, laying the thing low.

The party is sure to put the bug out of its misery.

 Combat Ends! 
DrK
Helena shrugs as she lowers her bow,   "My thanks, that was a surprise. I was not expecting so many creatures in a tomb. It continues to beg the question of where we are."   . Grum for his part shake his head as he tries to clean dead chunks of caterpillar off the blade.   "Does it matter. It be filled with vermin."    he adds as he stomps back to where he had seen the sword stuck in the frame and reaches up to wrench it free from the metallic sheet.

He looks at the room at large,   "Why there be a bull hanging there?"  
lostsole31
Grum easily frees the sword from the metallic hide. The smell of death comes from within. A cursory check will note that the metal is not a sculpture, but appears to have been the actual hide of the bovine menace, and there was left over bits of flesh that were not entirely scooped out (small, small bits mind you) when this thing was chopped up and put on display. It appears that the horn caterpillar was trying to subsist off those trace amounts of meat.

  "That's because it wasn't a bull,"   says Sal.   "That was once a gorgon, or we're made to believe it was once. The Greek gorgon of myth was a metal bull with interlocking plates of hide. It's one of the classic Grecian magical monsters. In addition to simply being big and strong like a bull and hard to kill with metal hide, the real danger of the gorgon that I remember from the lore is that it breathed out a poisonous gas that would turn men to stone."  
  "So, one more trophy, basically,"   says Drake.   "I mean, everywhere else in this I-Love-Me tomb is about trophies and prizes, so I guess this guy Roslar bagged a gorgon. Probably used that silver sword to do it."  
 Grum , are you "claiming" the sword, or putting it in party treasury for now?
DrK
Helena looks at the hide more carefully,   "Fasctinating. Metallic petrifying bulls. That must have been truly terrifying to face in battle. Maybe Roslar's reputation was really well earned."   she suggests, a hand reaching out to feel the metallic hide.

Grum looks again,   "Aye lassie, that be a mean beasty. Honour tae' the man aye."   Looking around he pulls out the sword and examines it.   "Shiny, be nice work."   he says examining for seeking if he  detect any magic  on it. Regardless of that he'll proffer the blade to Drake, Sal or Camaell,   "Any of ye' lads want the fancy blade? It nae be my style."   Helena looks at it, a hand near her waist but says nothing as she knows she relies on her bow far more heavily.

Looking south once the holder of the sword is decided Grum nods at the passageway leading south and starts stomping that way, sword held ready.
lostsole31
  "How about you, Helena?"   asks Sal.   "You want the sword? I'm carrying enough as it is, and I prefer a dagger over a big sword. Fred kept trying to take us to her LARPing things, but I was never into ancient weapons like that."  

Cam holds up the very fine mace he got earlier.

Drake says,   "Don't look at me. I've been in the clutches of this or that beastie to often. I like a close-in weapon. I can leverage some power in a weapon like that if I had to, but I prefer dad's machete. Besides ... and don't take this the wrong way ... but that sword is a little too fancy and silver-shiny for my sakes. If that's all I knew of this Roslar, I'd have said he was a she."  
DrK
Helena nods and then holds up the blade and experimentally swishes it around.   "Thank you, its a beautiful blade."   She straps it her waist, happy to have a more solid weapon at her waist and then nods,   "Very well Grum, lead on, we'll follow you."  

Grum nods to her smiling behind his beard at the blade on her waist,   "Aye, as ye say. Lets be off then."   he says before stomping south
lostsole31
He opens the door, and the party presses through to the next room. The walls of this wide room are covered with murals depicting a man performing a variety of heroic tasks: driving a sword into a fearsome metallic bull, defending a village from a scowling spectre, delivering an impassioned speech to several knights, and so on. The man has a large mustache and flowing hair, and wears a breastplate adorned with the symbol of a winged rapier. The western end of this room contains an enormous statue of the man atop a rearing horse, carrying a lance in one hand and a shield in the other. Hallways exit this room to the north and south; both immediately bend to the east. Doors stand in the north and south walls.
DrK
Helena looks around, smiling at the statue,   ”He wasn’t a humble man Roslar, he was proud of his achievements.”  

Grum snorts,   ”If man were a sausage ‘eed be eating his self. No man be doing all those things, eed be ate by the bull.”  

Helena frowns at the dwarf,   ”The crusade has many heroes master Grum. It was led by heralds of the Gods themselves.””  

Grum snorts, shrugging and points at the door to the south straight opposite them.   ”shall we try there first?”   he suggests
lostsole31
  "Cheese and crackers, dwarf. You're more impatient than me,"   says Drake.   "Are we going to search this room? As it is, we sort of gave the last room a pass."  
  "Yeah,"   says Sal.   "As far as Roslar, the key question is .... did he have this place built, or was it built for him? If this place was devised and built by his loved ones, then it doesn't matter what he did or didn't do in life - though others building it lends more credence to performance of these deeds - as the deeds are  attributed  to him. Besides, look at this place. It's massive. Bigger than any tomb we've come across in the States. I mean, there are tombs of monarchs - and not many - in our world that exceed this place. But for a guy who wasn't a king or sovereign, it's no joke. No, I think Roslar was probably legit, but if you notice ... it seems that there are also dissenting or even accusatory clues that tell us that he was like any great person in history - complicated."  
DrK
Helena and Grum both pause at Drake and Sal's words. Grum more gruffly,   "We ain't be here to see sights or pry up the gold."   he says,   "We need be getting out of here. I ain't be caring about this place other an exit."  

Helen steps forward, standing between Grum and the brothers,   "Calm, it may be important Grum. There may be some clues."   she suggests.   Please Grum, lets have a quick look around. Sal and Drake are right, this tomb may have some clues as to where we are or what this place is. I've studied at the War College and I still do not know where we might be"   

Grum shakes his head standing in the centre of the chamber before shrugging and nod.   Aye, fine then. Look around. see if ye can fin some clues as to the mystery aye?"  
lostsole31
It is a very large room with various carvings. Sal doesn't want the search to go past the "plane" of the entrance to the north and south hallways to the east.

This hall presents many of Roslar’s heroic deeds. The statue depicts Roslar atop his favored steed, the graceful stallion Abdell (who was interred in area  A7 ). An ancient enchantment makes the statue seem briefly alive when a creature approaches within 10 feet; Roslar dips his lance and raises his shield, while Abdell gives a faint, ghostly whinny. This effect might startle the PCs, but is harmless.

There is a simple bowl for offerings that contains a large number of silver and copper coins, two rolled parchments, and what looks to be an ancient jar of gooseberry preserves.

The total search took five minutes.

Do you loot the offering bowl or investigate anything on it further?
DrK
Helena pauses at the display smiling at the effect and offers a neat bow to the ancient hero. Seeing the scrolls in the offering bowl she’ll study them briefly with her magical cantrips ( detect magic ) to see if they are active scrolls or just bits of paper

She smiles at the others,   ”Its an impressive construction, I never heard of such an edifice for Roslar being written.”   As they finish the search points at the door in the south east corner,  “ Are we ready to look through that one? ” 
lostsole31
The scrolls are, in fact, magical. The exact same script and ink adorns both scrolls.
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 


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  

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 


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 

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 
 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 


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  


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 
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."  
DrK
Grum spins around at the mention of "reapers" and then sees the skeleton and the raven and strides in front of the others shifting the massive blade into a more defensive style.   "We ain't no easy meat beast. No ye ca be gone and leave us be.."   he challenges them as he rests into a defensive posture.

Behind him Helena had been looking confused between the pair of brothers confused at the mention of things like "Europe" and "Sheol". As the flying skeleton flaps towards them she whips her hand back plucking an arrow out stepping into her stance to bring holy fire to her arrows as she takes careful aim, a questioning   "Raven or skeleton first?"   to the group as she wonders what manner of beast they are.
lostsole31
A high-pitched voice emanates from the chattering beak of the masked songbird,     “Oh, isn’t this a meeting of obvious fortuitousness! Here you are, and here we are. My name is Umble, and my silent companion here is named Thoot. We mean you no harm, despite the strange harmaments you seem to have already suffered. Yes, yes, this is the land of the dead, and no, you aren’t dead yourselves. You seem to be something of a special case—you seem a touch too vitalitinous for this place.”    

The bird peers closely, cocking her head to one side.     “Ah, there is a wonderment! Your hearts have something lodged inside them. Something that’s brought you here, but kept you from doing so in the orthodoxiumous fashion. I cannot help but ruminate: what has caused your strange condition?”    
DrK
Grum holds his blade and lowers it to the ground.   ”No harm aye, ye be saying I be dead. But you hole nae part of that?”   He glances at the others,   “Ya ken what this talking but or it’s bony mate be?”  

Helena lowers her bow.   ”What manner of creatures are you? And how did we end up here? None of us were in fights or strife last night?”  

Tapping her chest she looks to for a mark or injury,   “I cannot feel anything there.”  
lostsole31
As Thoot gives a big, enigmatic shrug, Umble squeaks out,   "We are psychopomps, whose functionation is to guide the souls of the dead to their final rewards; we come in multiplicitous varieties, as you can see.

"As far as your hearts ... well, it’s right there for the seeing, if you can see into your own hearts. A longitudinousness of your makeup. It’s ah... a bit of a tweak, you see."  
  "Where are we?"   asks Drake, still having trouble with what was said earlier.   "How did we get here?"  
  
“In Pharasma’s Boneyard, of course; in the Graveyard of Souls. As far as your arrival, that is as much a mysteriosity to us as it is to you, I assure you. The customary route is one of considerably more post-mortality than you seem to have.”  

Gwennid, seeing even the little bird as strangely terrifying, pipes up,   "Will you hurt us?"  

Camael says with some sense of purpose,   "Can we speak with Pharasma?"  
  
“Oh with all certaintuity! The wait for her magisterial presence is normally any number of centuries, but given the atypicallity of your arrival, I expect the Lady of Graves will see you in just a scant tens of years!”  
DrK
Grum listens then asks with his dwarven bluntness,   ”Can we leave this place. Ye be coming and going, how do ye do that? Can ye send us back tae our realm?”   He looks around and pats Gwen on the shoulder,   “Aye lass, we be safe frae them. I’ll keep ye right.”  

Helena is stlll perplexed   ”You say we are oddities in this place. Have you seen this before? As master Grum says, can we leave this place please.”   Then as she looks about,   “Are we the only people from Roslar’s coffer here?”  
lostsole31
The tall creature with the wings and jackal-skull head softly raps Umble’s head, then points to the entrance to a nearby valley.

  “Ah, Thoot, now that is a brilliant idea!”   exclaims the gregarious bird.   “You are from Roslar’s Coffer, and they are from Roslar’s Coffer. Perhaps you can help us? If so, we can provide you with some very helpful information about wending you in a homewardly direction.

“Some awful tragedy befell this Roslar’s Coffer. Everyone there died quite suddenly overnight. Well, everyone but you, apparently, but in any case, the sum of the populatory has deposited here, dead or otherwise. Their souls are milling about in that valley over there. As happens on such calamitous occasions, the inhabitants aren’t quite ready to admit that they’ve died. Despite their obvious amortality.

“Now, Thoot and I, we are not psychopomps in the greatest esteem. One might say we’re on our last chances around here. But because these souls have arrived in our territory, it’s our duty to make them accept their mortality and move them along in a soulwardly way. But they took one look at us, called us ‘monsters,’ and accosted us with homicidal intent. They wouldn’t allow any discussionment. Now, eventually, more powerful psychopomps will be along to settle this all out, but Thoot and I will be in a terrible amount of trouble in light of this failing. Here is our propositionality: if you convince these souls they’ve expired—as, until the recent event of their passing that you somehow avoided, you were among their kind—we can tell you about the Dead Roads: the roads from the Boneyard to mortal worlds, that is. Have we a deal?”  
DrK
Grum nods at them,   "YOu say there are others from our village, Aye ye flying beastie, ye and the sack o'bones can point us in that way."   Helena reaches out to Grum,   "Grum, you didn't hear, they are all dead. I suspect.."   she adds looking at the raven,   "Not in a similar way to us who seem to be strange, but properly dead. But we need to help them. We need to help any of them we can."  

She looks at the strange view and creatures,   "How do we convince them they are dead if they are stuck halfway in between?"   she asks to Humble and Thoot.
lostsole31
  "First, have we a deality?"   asks Umble.
DrK
Helena nods, immediately agreeing to help her fellow people from Roslar’s Coffer.   ”Yes of course I shall help any of them.”  
lostsole31
  "Like I explanated,"   says Umble,   "We didn't convincerate the folks from Roslar's Coffer. So that's on you. Let's go!"  

As the psychopmps lead you out of the particular graveyard you are in and travel along a road, Sal speaks up,   "You mentioned the Dead Roads. Where I come from, there are some wives' tales and children's songs about the reaper walking the dead roads to bring the dying home."  

Umble and Thoot offer nothing to Sal's remembrances, escorting the PCs to the valley entrance. Thoot shifts impatiently, looking around the horizon, and Umble encourages the PCs to get on with their convincing, but the two of them will stay at this point.
DrK
Grum looks at the two psychopmps and shrugs,   "Best be about it eh?"   he grumbles and starts stomping down the road. Following him Helena looks at Sal and nods,   "Its similar here. The dead roads are where the souls go on their path to the most appropriate afterlife"  , the under her breath as she follows Grum,   "THough damned if I know how to explain that to the souls of Roslar's coffer"  

Heading that way she looks into the mists and for for what may lie ahead.
lostsole31
The party travels along as directed. A small valley stretches out beyond the rocky pass. Winding stands of gray trees and tumbledown walls mirror the layout of Roslar’s Coffer, with simple trails in place of roads. Softly glowing figures—some of them with familiar faces—wander about, apparently practicing their daily routines.

This narrow valley has several copses of dead trees, each separated by thorny brush. All the residents of Roslar’s Coffer are here, puzzled but trying to persevere. The Boneyard has created a rough facsimile of Roslar’s Coffer to ease their transition, and the trauma the souls experienced in their mass arrival is enough to blind them to the obvious imperfections of the simulation. The residents greet the PCs, commenting perhaps on the strange weather or feeling a bit odd, but otherwise refusing to consider anything might be wrong. Even family and friends of the PCs can’t seem to understand that something is wrong. Locals comment about the “skeleton monster” that came down from the hills that morning, but they seem confident they scared it away. A few citizens show obvious signs of stress —their perceptions and minds tearing them apart inside—and if not eased into the transition soon, they could easily return to "their world" (Golarion) as ghosts and restless undead, Camael informs you.

What now?
DrK
Grum grunts a greeting to those he meets, a look of sadness on his craggy face as he can see their misty forms and realises they are dead.   "Tis a shame lass. they be all gone. We best find some o'the council to see if we can gather folk up. Mayhaps have a word eh?"   He looks at Drake, Gwen, Sal and Camael,   "Maybe outlander riends 'ere can talk some sense into them."  

Helen had paused to speaks with some of the people and looked sad.   "I should check the barracks, see if my unit is here?"    she suggests,   "They might be able to help?"  .

Grum shrugs,   "Aye lass, whether we be pub, merchant or barracks I'v no great concern. Tis a dead town now, memories and dust."   The last is said sadly and Helenal looks at the dwarf in surprise as if she only now remembers he is probably older than her grand parents.
lostsole31
So, if I get this right ... Grum is going to look for "those in charge" of Roslar's Coffer.

Meanwhile, Helena is going to try to locate and rendezvous with members of her unit?
DrK
Grum looks at the others and gesture towards the main square and where the inns are.   "Shall we try that way aye? Be busy enough if the mayor ain't there someone 'll know where she is""  .

Helena nods her head and looks at Gwen,   "Would you come with me? I'd like to have some company?"   If Gwen agrees she'll head towards the barracks.
lostsole31
  "Helena, do you mind if I go with you?"   asks Camael. The Windchasers look at him curiously, so he explains.   "We don't know what's happening and if there are hostile forces out there. In case Helena and Gwennid are attacked, they have an extra hand."  
  "Ahh, you dog,"   says Drake with a weird sense of encouragement,   "helping the ladies, why didn't I think of that?"  
  "Because you and Grum still think of Gwennid as female. There is only one lady, and neither the lady nor the nonbinary fey have proven to be helpless in battle,"   says Camael, who turns to Helena.   "Is that alright with you?"  
DrK
Helena blushes heavily at the interplay between Camael and Drake, the pink glow clear on her pale skin. Looking towards where the barracks are so they can't see her face she nods.   "Of course Camael. From what we've seen in the tomb its not free of danger and I doubt this pale reflection of Roslar's Coffer will be different."    However, as she looks at the buildings she does sling her bow over her shoulder so as not to be walking around fully armed.


Grum looks at Sal and Drake a gruff,   "Inn be this way Lads""   as he starts stomping through the foggy surrounds.
lostsole31
 Helena (et. al.) 

Helena and her new friends make it to the armory, a small garrison of no more than 12 souls (of which Helena was one) designed to be on hand to ride and range in pairs about Roslar's Coffer in their eternal task. Lieutenant Garcy, a halfling outrider, oversees the armory.

 "Varvatos!"  he barks upon seeing you.  "Where have you been? We were thinking the scythe-wielding skeleton and its strange bird got you. Definitely a thinking bonebox, so surely a pawn of some new upstart in the Way, wouldn't you say?" 

No sooner does he give you that spirited greeting than his attention sort of just ... wanes and he isn't really focused on a reply or you.

Meanwhile, a smaller voice from a much larger body to the side of the entrance to the armor is heard.   "Sun-Sunflower? Is that you?"  

Helena turns her head to see Garvin there, having used his familiar for you as you are as tall as a sunflower with golden hair.

 

 Grum (et. al.) 

To Grum's surprise, he has no trouble at all getting an audience with the mayor, Lady Mullana Grive.

  "Well?"   she asks of the dwarf.
DrK
 Helena 

Helena nods to the outrider bellowing at her.   "I met the creature. A psychopomp no undead. We may have to discuss somethings my friend."   At someone calling out to her via a nickname she nods and smiles.   "It is me. I am here. Although in some strange circumstances. Can I introduce my friends, this is Gwen and this is Camael."  

------

 Grum 

Grum looks at the mayor and nods to Drake and Sal.   "Aye Mayor. Tis good tae see you. These be Drake and Sal, frae out o' town. "   He pauses as he looks about.   "I have a wee bit o' bad news. Mebbe we be talking inside, you be needing a drink fer this."   He gestures to the nearest bar.   "Best we talk inside."  
lostsole31
  Helena  
  "Hey,"   he looks at the strangers, and takes on a less familiar tone.   "My name is Garvin. Helena and I are .... friends.

"Helena, any idea what is happening? What's a psychopomp?"  

 

  Grum  

You were already seen by the mayor, and she's well enough alone.

 "Out with it, man." 
DrK
 Helena 

Helena approaches Garmin carefully looking for any signs of strangeness.   ”Oh Garvin. I am so sorry. It’s not fair any it. Do you know where you are? What happened?”   she asks.

Offering a gentle embrace she says wearily.   “Everyone is dead and gone. This is the Dead Roads all around us. How do you feel?”   

——

 Grum 

Grum looks at the mayor and shrugs.   ”Aye. If ye want it blunt I can gie it you blunt. Ye are all dead. The town be gone and ye be in the dead roads. It be time to move one.”   He pauses to give the mayor a moment to think on the blunt explanation of events.
lostsole31
  Helena  

Garvin looks at her amusedly.   "Dead, hahaha. Oh, we're in Roslar's Coffer. Not where .... wherever you said. I mean, I went to bed last night and woke up as normal, though I have been a little foggy I admit. But dead? Ho-ho-ho, I don't think so."  
 Helena , do you spend significant time with him to try to convince Garvin of the fact that he's dead? 
 Spoiler: OOC 
This takes more time than a few quips, but doesn't need to be RP'd to the nth degree, either, as a result.
 


 

  Grum  

To Grum's and the brother's surprise ... the mayor isn't.

 "I agree that being dead seems the most likely explanation,"  she begins.  "However, my own efforts to explain this have led to horrifying reactions and panic, which hasn't helped anyone. I'm not willing to try again unless you can convince the rest of the town council, led by Arbella Tharmethion -- one of the most influential residents -- and also broach the issue quietly and carefully to the children of Roslar's Coffer. I've never been good with children, and I'm terrified of warping their young souls should I try.

"If you can convince them, I agree to call a town meeting and, with the backing of you and the town council, explain the situation to the whole town." 
DrK
 Helena 

Grabbing Garvin by the hand Helena leads him to one side and proffers him to sit down.   ”Im so sorry Garvin, it’s the truth. I struggled with it as well. I woke up in a tomb, I met these strangers from another realm…”   Here she points at Gwen and Camael,   “But we are in the dead roads and it is time to move on. I’m so sorry….”  
She sits with him for some time describing the tomb and what she has seen so far and Umble and Thoot. By the end a few tears drip down her cheeks as she feels the sadness of the loss of everyone she knows in the town

 Grum 

The dwarf starts at the matter of fact tone of the mayor.   ”Aye, well aye.”    he stutters.   “I dinnae like kids but mebbe Helena can help with that, where be this counsellor?”  
lostsole31
  Helena  
It takes 36 minutes, and Helena finds that for herself, her best means of imparting Garvin's death and helping him to understand is less in her natural abilities to convince another, and more about her own understanding of theology and explaining it to another person.

Finally, it seems to dawn on him.   "It's really true, then."   He then turns to look Helena squarely, studying her face, and then smiles wanly.   "We were never meant to be, were we, Sunflower?"  

 

  Grum  

The mayor shrugs and tells the men where she last saw Arbella. Of course, Grum knows what she looks like. Of course, as Grum is a resident he does know what Arbella looks like. She is a trader from Roslar’s Coffer who has a very distinguished ancestor: a warrior from the Shining Crusade named Garrid Tharmethion. Arbella is well known and well liked in Roslar’s Coffer, and sits on the town council as the local economic advisor.
DrK
 Helana 

By the end Helena has tears streaking her face as holds Garvin in a tight embrace.   "No... I don't think we are to be true. I'm so sorry Garv'. I don't even know what happened. I'm so sorry. I promise you, I'll find out what happened. I'll find those responisble and make them pay."    The last sentence is said with venom as she looks angry at the loss of this.

Holding onto to him for a few minutes more she kisses him gently.   "Its time go go. But you'll live on with me."  

Helena will sit with him for another few minutes to allow him to accept the inevtibale before wishing him farewell and leaving the barracks. She looks to Gwen and Camael,   "Lets go and find Grum"   she says as she heads back to town.

----

 Grum 

Grum nods to the brothers.   "Come on then. Lets talk some sense into Arabella. Best be telling her that she be dead and time to move on."   He doesn't even pretend to like the woman as aside from his few friends he wasn't that fussed for many in the town.

(Hopefully with directions) from the Mayor he heads towards where Arabella was last seen with Sal and Drake in tow.
lostsole31
  "Hey, Grum! Is that really you?"   comes a familiar, squeaky voice.

Grum turns around to see Dravit Swipeslap, the local jeweller, casually walking towards him down the road.

   "What the hell is that?!?"    remarks Sal without much use of any inside voice.

  "I, sir, am a gnome,"   Dravit answers with a haughty sniff of his gold-flecked green lip, his unkempt turquoise moustache wriggling defiantly.    "And what the hell is THAT?"   he follows up, pointing to Sal's stowed sidearm.   "Is that an Alkenstar weapon?!?"  
  "A what?"   Sal looks to Grum helplessly.

  "Wake up in a strange place, everyone has lost their damn minds. Including you, you big oaf,"   Dravit says with mock accusation.   "What's going on here? And who are they?"  
DrK
 Grum 

Grum turn at the shout and nods to the approaching gnome. He offers Dravit and strong and firm handshake.   "Aye Drav' it be me. How ye be doing?"   He asks the gnome. Then he steps aside as Dravit spots the gun. Nodding he gestures,   "Met 'em in the tomb. Its goes "boom" and everything. Shocked ye didn't hear it,"   He adds.

Looking around he gestures at the greyed out hills, washed out petitioners and the like.   "Ye not seeing anything wrong ye badger kissing rogue?"  
lostsole31
  "Something ... seems off,"   he says, drifting his gaze about,   "I just can't put my whiskers on it, you brain-rotted whelpling."  
DrK
Grum sighs.   ”Mebbe a drink would help aye… Ye be dead. Ye be in the Dead Roads.””   He says bluntly. Suggesting they sit down on a ledge/wall/bench he’ll spend the next few minutes explaining the situation to his gnomish friend
lostsole31
Grum's a warpriest, not a parish priest, and his skills aren't given (yet) to comforting others. Even with Dean studying and trying to aid Grum (since Grum began this), it isn't quite enough after 37 minutes of the attempt. Dravit begins to panic and spasm, flashing briefly between his normal form and a ghostly reflection of what he may become, simply forgetting the past several minutes ... including all of Grum's attempt to convince him that he is dead.

Sal says to Grum,   "I could try, if you think we have the time?"  
  "No,"   says Drake.   "That's just it. We don't have the time. It would take weeks and weeks to try and get everyone in town individually. I say we leave your pal for now, and scare up this Arbella like the kindly dead mayor-lady asked us."  
 Grum , what do you want to do?
DrK
Grum shakes his head sadly and claps Dravit on the shoulder.   ”Dinnae worry. Get yerself to the inn. Get a drink. Forget I said owt.”   He says clapping Dravit once more on the back.

Then looking to Drake and Sal,   “Aye. Tae Arabella it is. Let’s be about this.” .  Leaving Dravit behind he heads towards where they last said Arabella was.
lostsole31
Because of the time spent with Dravit, who just blankly goes wandering off, Helena and the rest of the crew catch up with Grum.
DrK
Helena see's Grum and, still with a face damp and puffy from tears approaches him.   "Did you see the mayor. I saw my friends at the barracks, it was dreadful."   she says as she reaches where Grum, Drake and Sal are.

The dwarf nods.   "Aye lass its been tough"   he says gruffly, eyes still staring down the street where Dravit had wandered off in the daze. Clapping a hand to Helena's arm he gesture where they are going looking for Arabella.   "We spoke to the Mayor. She knows she be dead. But she needs help to sort the rest o' the town. We be heading to see Arabella tae' sort stuff out"  

Helena shakes her head, dabbing at her face.   "Yes Master Grum. I can help. Please lead on."   The dwarf nods her head and waves to Gwen and Camael as well,   "Come on then. Lets be about."  
lostsole31
 Arbella Tharmethion  (female human) is a trader from Roslar’s Coffer who has a very distinguished ancestor: a warrior from the Shining Crusade named Garrid Tharmethion. Arbella is well known and well liked in Roslar’s Coffer, and sits on the town council as the local economic advisor. She now lingers in a hedge thicket with several other members of the council and a ranting, ghostly man who bears a strong resemblance to Arbella, albeit with a short beard and a broken nose. The PCs think they might have seen his image in area  A11  of Roslar's Coffer in a likeness of Garrid Tharmethion. Garrid is telling Arbella and her friends that he’s come from beyond the grave to assure them they aren’t dead, and that greater heroics await Arbella once the “nefarious trickery” that afflicts the town is resolved.

What do you do?
DrK
Helena looks curiously at the figure,   ”I don’t recognise him from the town but he looks like the picture of Arabella’s ancestor from the wall of the tomb.”  

Grum stares and snorts,   ”Aye, he looks tae be trouble.”   With his normal subtlety he strides forward and offers a loose wave of greeting.   “Council lady. We be needing to speak about the fall
O’ the town and what’s been going on. Who be your new friend?”  
lostsole31
Arbella answers,   "My ancestor has come in ghostly form to tell us of danger close and trickery near."  
DrK
Grum looks at the figure, a knuckle tightening on his blade.   ”Aye, well. Mayor had called a meeting, she be wanting all the townsfolk to gather. Ye be dead, Roslar’s Coffer be gone and ye be in the dead roads.”  

The brutality of the delivery surprises Helena who tries a softer tact.   ”Arabella. I don’t what they have told you, but surely you must see that there is something wrong here. This is the dead roads and the town have to move on.”  
lostsole31
Helen never got to speak her peace. As soon as Grum tells Arabella she  is dead, Garrid's face contorts in rage and he moves forward to attack.

 Begin Round One ...

  R1T25:  Sal concentrates on the approaching creature.   "It's a degenerate unfettered phantom of anger. It may be incorporeal. Put it out of its misery."  

He moves north and west around thickets and headstones to flank it while taking out his bow. He shoots and misses.

 R1T18:   Helena , what do you do?
DrK
Helena starts, stepping backwards.  ”A phantom, he go back..”  she shouts as she steps into her stance drawing her bow and launching an arrow

 
 Spoiler: OOC  


5ft step south
Drop into stance of piercing rays
Draw bow
Fire with risky attack  (1d20+6)[ 19 ]  dam  (1d8+4)[ 8 ]  +  (1d6)[ 3 ]  fire
 
lostsole31
 R1T18:  Helena starts, stepping backwards.    ”A phantom, he go back..”    she shouts as she steps into her stance drawing her bow and launching an arrow through Garrid's left calf for  3 mod +  3 fire  .

 R1T17:  Garrid charges the dwarf right in this path. A fist slams Grum right on the jaw for  3 , so Grum barely registers the hit.

 R1T15:   Camael heads due east while getting out his mace and readying his  shield, and on a J-hook maneuver turns back around and closes to flank  Garrid. He swings the mace, but even after a charge the mace barely  seems to skip off the surface of the ghostly man.

 R1T11:   Gwennid takes to the air and gets 10' off the ground. She materializes  her spear of light and then when she throws it, it doesn't fly from her  hand so much as creates a continuous line of light that burns through  part of the dodging man for   6 light  .

 R1T6:    "Okay, this ain't a ghost,"   says Drake.   "It's  a guy who lived once, but is now an phantom like a spiritualist calls  up ... but unfettered ... and degenerate. Weak,actually. Use blades."  

Drake  takes his own advice, drawing his machete and stepping up and swinging.  The phantom deflects the blade so hard that it affects Drake's grip on  his weapon.

 R1T3:   Grum , what do you do?

Sal on deck, Helena in the hole ...
DrK
Grum ducks back, before gripping the massive double handed blade.    "Aye, so that be it..."    he snarls and chops down with the blade upon the strange phantom.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Swift: titantic swings blade style
Standard: Risky attack  (1d20+8)[ 23 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 17 ] 

If attacked then counter  (1d20+8)[ 22 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 14 ] 


+2 to hit if flanking
 
lostsole31
 R1T3:  Grum ducks back, before gripping the massive double handed blade.    "Aye, so that be it..."     he snarls and chops down with the blade upon the strange phantom. The  phantom reflexively lifts his arm to protect himself, getting cut in the  upper right arm for  17  for his trouble.

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T25:  Sal skirts around to the far side while taking out his dagger and stabs, but a powerful deflection force throws off his aim.

 R2T18:   Helena , what do you do?

Garrid on deck, Camael in the hole ...
DrK
Helena throws a glance towards Arabella,   ”Why do you consort with monsters?”    she demands before launching a pair of arrows at the creature

 
 Spoiler: OOC  


Swift: boost with Horizon wind lancet
silver strike with risky attack
 (1d20+6)[ 13 ]  or  (1d20+6)[ 18 ] 
Dam  (1d8+4)[ 11 ]  and  (2d6)[ 10 ]  (boost and stance)
 
lostsole31
 R2T18:  Helena throws a glance towards Arabella.   ”Why do you consort with monsters?”     she demands before launching a pair of arrows at the creature, both of  which are deflected by or bounce lightly off of the phantom's physical  form.

 R2T17:  Garrid recovers from his charge. He steps north and attacks Drake, with one fist pounding armor and the other missing.

 R2T15:   Camael sidles north to flank with Drake and puts more power than he  should have in it. Though he has the power, not the accuracy, and  doesn't hit Garrid's form solidly enough to connect.

 R2T11:   Gwennid flies forward and descends enough to still be able to attack,  but her light spear doesn't penetrate Garrid's spirit-skin.

 R2T6:   Drake spends a quick moment to fix his bad grip. He continues to  carefully eye his quarry and then strikes - his machete successfully  striking Garrid's upper right arm for  8 .

 R2T3:   Grum , what do you do?

Sal on deck, Helena in the hole ..
DrK
  "Right ye beast... time tae' die again"   the dwarf grunts as he shift into an aggressive stance to keep the phantom off balance as he stabs and cuts at the creature

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Swift: Enter vigilant keeper stance
Standard: Attack  (1d29+8)[ 16 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 14 ] 
     ---&gt; If attacked then counter  (1d29+8)[ 32 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 12 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R2T3:    "Right, ye beast... time tae' die again,"    the dwarf grunts as he shift into an aggressive stance to keep the  phantom off balance as he stabs and cuts at the creature, his sword  bouncing off of Garrid's belly.

 End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T25:   Sal adjusts position a little farther back, focuses briefly on Garrid  once more. He shoots, and the barely nicks Garrid's hand for  1 . Though it only just barely hit the phantom, Garrid moves slower and more awkwardly now ( staggered ).

 R3T18:   Helena , what do you do? Note that Gwennid is 5' off the ground, and is therefore not soft cover.

Garrid on deck, Camael in the hole ...
DrK
Helen, with an angle to shoot under Gwen lets fly with a pair of arrows then holds her next arrow, waiting to see if she can prevent one her friends being hit.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


5ft step east

Helen Rapid shots
 (1d20+5)[ 7 ]  dam  (1d8+2)[ 7 ]  +  (1d6)[ 5 ]  fire
 (1d20+5)[ 15 ]  dam  (1d8+2)[ 9 ]  +  (1d6)[ 6 ]  fire

(not including Point Blank Shot)

When the Phantom attacks se intercepting shade to negate attack  (1d20+7)[ 24 ]  vs attack roll
 
lostsole31
 R3T18:  With an angle to shoot under Gwen, Helena lets  fly with a pair of arrows  then holds her next arrow, waiting to see if she can prevent one her  friends being hit. The first arrow complete misses, and the second  bounces off of what has proven to be impressively hardened spirit-skin.

 R3T17:   Garrid swings at Gwennid, but Helena is ready for him and an arrow  along his fist's path is enough for him to stop short his attack so as  not to get hit. Still reeling from Sal's strange shot, that is all the  phantom has right now. It stumbles away from Grum's massive weapon and  from Camael, for something about Camael seems to bother him as well.

 R3T15:    The sounds of flapping wings are heard as Camael disappears from where  he was and appears to the north of Garrid. With full power he brings his  mace slamming into Garrid's chest for  14 . Garrid  heaves from the blow, but Camael makes that fast secondary attack you've  seen him make so many times before now - definitely some type of  specialized fighting maneuver - but this time it misses wildly as Garrid  seems to fear the angel, and desperately jukes out of the way.

 R3T11:   Gwennid flies around in a loop to keep her altitude; she seems great at  station-keeping, but flying slowly is another matter, and her wings  don't seem to be quite as agile as say, a normal bird's might be. She  attacks and misses with her light-spear.

 R3T6:  Drake has been turning widdershins this whole time to follow Garrid's movement. With the angel setting up a flank, Drake says,   "Thanks, Cam!"  

He  gets (over)confident and puts power into his strike as well, and Cam is  there to distract the phantom and Drake's machete lands in Garrid's  head with a thunk for  12 , dropping the phantom.

  "He's still ... alive?"   calls out Sal.

 R3T3:  Grum, what do you do?

Sal on deck, Helena in the hole ...
DrK
Grum looks at the creature.   ”I dinnae think it yet be alive eh.”   he offers and then looks at Gwen and Helena with an approving nod having seen the arrow disrupt the attack

He watches the fallen phantom carefully lest it get up but looks at Arabella.   “Ye be talking sense now aye?”  
lostsole31
Camael finishes off Garrid by braining him .... which isn't a gory death so much as Garrid slowly dissipates into nothingness.

 Initiative Ends! 

Arabella is completely thrown, and somewhat panicked by Grum's demeanor ... which is neither helpful and definitely counter-productive, working against the good will the party gained by defeating a manipulative shade.

To everyone's surprise, it is little Gwennid that seems to take the lead here, backed up by Sal (once he had a chance to observe the town council members). Gwennid's unique fairy perspective and Sal's calm demeanor helps Arabella and the other three members of the town council to gain perspective and finally see the truth that yes, they are dead.

Now what?
DrK
Whilst Grum leaves Arabella to others Helena is more sympathetic, offering the woman a soft embrace to comfort her.   ”I’m sorry you are dead, but you lived a good life, Pharasma will reward you.”  

As Arabella and the others leave Helena points to the trees at the edge of town.   “was that where the mayor said the children were?”   she asks Grum and after getting a grunt of assent starts heading that way
lostsole31
Its an easy walk to find the children. Most of the children of Roslar’s Coffer are all playing together in and around a massive, dead oak tree tied with ribbons and unusually vibrant flowers. A large crow with white tips on its feathers watches over them.

At least some of the children recognize Grum and Helena and crowd around them. These children don’t need to be told they’re dead—they already know, and are surprisingly accepting of their fate. When the PCs bring up the subject, the children laugh and say,   “Oh, we know! The lady told us!”  

The children describe how a woman with a beautiful voice spoke to them through her pet bird. She told them to be good and be brave and that she would be there soon to make everything right.

As the children speak, a large crow with white wing tips lands atop a child’s head and opens its beak. A lyrical voice ushers forth, with a curious, lilting accent.   “Ah, newcomers, you must be the curiosities I heard tell of. I am Mictena, and I cordially welcome you to the Boneyard and eternity. Do not fret about your unusual condition; I shall be with you shortly to correct this horrible error and help you on your way to the final rest you have earned!”  
DrK
Helena's eyes well up at the joy and acceptance of the children. As she moves amongst them,   "You poor dears. I'm sorry...."   she starts before stopping with half a sob at the unfairness of whatever has happened robbing all of the children of their lives. As the crow speaks she eyes the bird suspiciously,   "I am Helena,.. we do not need a final rest thank you. We are aware that we are in a different situation here. One that some of the denizens of this place told us about. I do not believe we need help getting to a final resting place."  

Grum is far more blunt, looking at the raven,   "Aye ye feathered rat, flap away and leave our children be."   he grunts, waving towards the children he motions towards the town.   "Aye little ones, ye be going to find your parents now please... The town be having a big meeting."  
lostsole31
The white crow looks at Helena and the voice issues,   "No,  something  sent you to the land of the dead, yes, and so you need to be properly dead before you can move on."  

With Grum's dismissive notion at the bird, the voice says,   "No, silly, the crow works for me. I am a psychopomp, but I am afraid I am quite busy for the time being. I'll be there in person soon enough."  

Drake puffs out his chest, and in challenge asks,   "Why are we still alive?"  

Again, the voice that now you are all sure is coming  through  the bird, but not  from  it,   “I have no idea, dears, but let’s not focus on the past. I’ll fix you up properly as soon as I’m able.”  
DrK
Helena looks around nervously, but Grum is less concerned, and spits towards the crow.   "Aye ye flying rat. Ye are welcome to try. But I won't be easy fer you."   he bellows at the bird. Sword clutched in his hands.

Looking back at the others,   "This beastie be a waste o'time. Shall we speak with the townsfolk and be on our way?"  
lostsole31
With Grum railroading any other useful intel for his own impatience, it is obvious that further communication is at an end.

The crow seems irritable and disappears from sight.
DrK
Grum watches it vanish,   ”cowardly wee bastard.”   Grum mutters as he starts heading towards the town centre

Helena pauses, lowering her bow.   ”She may have told us more Master Grum.”    she suggests quietly

Grum shrugs as he walks ,   ”she did threaten us. So if she wants us she can come and find us.”   before continuing to head back. As he walks he looks around at the others,   ”Does one of ye want to speak tae the crowd. I ain’t the best with people.”  
lostsole31
 Surprise Round ... 

Something clips Grum in the head for  7  ... not enough to cause a wound, but enough to deplete the slowly building fortification from his  Stone Giant's Girdle . Whatever it was zoomed right on past.

 Begin Round One ... 
 R1T31:    "There!"    Sal points to the northwest. The white-tipped wings of the dusky black  crow is seen 10' off the ground speeding away a bit. He concentrates,  and briefly there is a short-range globe that shimmers around Sal before  disappearing. He takes out his bow again.   "Kids, take cover by the thickets."  
 R1T23:  Camael gets in relative front of the group in relation to the bird, ready to strike it should it try another cheap shot.

 R1T20:   Helena , your bow is still in hand. What do you do?
DrK
Helena looks crossly at the bird, a whispered   this is not what I wanted..”    before she stepped westwards for a cleaner shot for a single arrow that catches fire at the bird

 
 Spoiler: OOC  


Free: 5ft west
Swift: enter stance piercing rays
Standard: silver strike
 (1d20+7)[ 12 ]  or  (1d20+7)[ 18 ]  dam  (1d8+2)[ 9 ]  +  (1d6)[ 2 ]  fire
 
lostsole31
 R1T20:  Helena looks crossly at the bird, a whispered    "This is not what I wanted,”      before she steps westwards for a cleaner, single shot. Fire trails from  the arrow, but the wall and thicket to the northwest foul the shot  enough that the bird just manages to dodge away.

 R1T18:   Gwennid gives chase on the wing as well, matching altitude when they  cast a spell and throws colorful sand she grabs from their bundle. The  sands form into a burst of clashing colors that wash over the bird for  no visible effect.   "Witchcrow!"   They cry back to the party.   "Magical beast. A covey would be more dangerous, magically, but this one is alone and can't apport us."  
 R1T7:    "A witchcrow, huh?"   Drake mutters mostly to himself, but also obviously meant to be heard by his brother.   "Yeah,  I remember the lore. They're pretty good at stealing things right from  under someone's nose, but also have some pretty nasty hexes - like bad  luck and the evil eye."  

Drake begins to give  chase while drawing his pistol. He moves to right under the witchcrow  and fires. It is a baleful shot that hits and mashes the creatures left  leg for  17 + 1 DEX + 1/2 speed .

 R1T3:  With initiative beginning, you are not in a blade style. What do you do?

Sal on deck, Camael in the hole ...
DrK
The dwarf shakes his head looking down at the gleaming akashic belt that took the blow. Then shifting into an aggressive form enabling large titanic swings to extend his reach. That done he stampes after the crow advancing 40ft after the flying crow.
lostsole31
 R1T3:  The dwarf shakes his head looking down at the gleaming akashic belt that  took the blow. Then shifting into an aggressive form enabling large  titanic swings to extend his reach. That done he stamps after the crow.

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T31:   Sal continues to take a quick second to observe the witchcrow,  repositioning to an area between a bush and thickets to take a measured  shot that hits near the base of the neck with a light crit for  6 .

 R2T23:  Camael heads north and west to attack from the other side. He puts too much power into his swing and misses.

 R2T20:   Helena , what do you do?

Gwennid on deck, Drake in the hole ...
DrK
Helena mutters an oath that would shock her parents under her breath. Scurrying forward for a clear shot she throws up an arm and the bow letting fly with another arrow, aware that she doesn’t have that many left!

 
 Spoiler: OOc 



Move 25ft directly north
Shoot the crow
 (1d20+7)[ 8 ]  dam  (1d8+2)[ 4 ]  +  (1d6)[ 6 ]  fire
 
lostsole31
 R2T20:  Helena mutters an oath that would shock her parents under her breath.  Scurrying forward for a clear shot she throws up an arm and the bow  letting fly with another arrow, aware that she doesn’t have that many  left! And now one less as she missed by a very wide margin.

 R2T18:  Gwennid flies and hooks around from the northwest and with her light-spear reformed they stab the witchcrow in the belly for  4 .   "I  can tell from the way the spear reacts with its body that it is  definitely an evil creature, not unaligned like most psychopomps would  be,"   they say,   "which is strange, all things considered."  
 R2T7:  Drake steps south and shoots at the creature again with an impossibly perfect shot that hits the thing in the head for  28 + disabled + prone + unconscious , and it falls to the flagstones of the graveyard to hit for another  2 , unmoving. Something about that shot seems to refresh Drake.

 R2T3:   Grum , what do you do to the identified-as-evil creature?

Sal on deck, Camael in the hole ...
DrK
Grum looks at the beast and nods in satisfaction as it thuds to the ground. Approaching the body he nods to Drake,   "Aye lad, that were a good shot with that strange thing of yours"  . Standing over the bird he'll look at it cautiously for signs of its recovery from the brutal gun shot and hit it if it is needed.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Advance to downed bird.
Ready to strike it if it seems to be healing or recovering
 
lostsole31
Camael ensures the evil is dispatched with a brutal drop of the mace.

 Combat Ends! 

As soon as the bird is defeated, a round-faced boy comes forward with a red stone saying,   "This was da bird's bubble. I stole it. You can have it."  

What now?
DrK
Helena looks at the boy thanking him for the bauble, then looks at the children.   ”Little ones, how are you doing? Could you all go to the town square to meet your parents?”   She waits to see if the children scatter before looking at the stone and detecting magic
lostsole31
The children look disorganized and do not leave, each in their own childish way stating that they'll wait for you to go with them, in case of any other scary ghost-people and angry birds.

Helena is unable to recognize the aura on this unmistakably magical stone, though the aura itself is strong. Sal asks to take a look and then holds onto the magic rock, but it even stymies him. For now, the magic rock is a mystery.

Once the children and the town council have been convinced of the situation, Mayor Grive calls a meeting in what passes for the town hall: a large clearing surrounded by dead sycamores.

Do the PCs want to disclose the news that the town's inhabitants are dead, or leave the task up to Mayor Grive?
DrK
Helena thanks the child for rock as she looks at it in a vexed manner before dropping it in a pouch for later. Turning back to the children she takes a couple by the hand as they snake their way back to to tyevtown square

Grum approaches the mayor nodding respectfully.   ”Problem wi’ Arabella sorted now. And the wee ones know they be passed, a crow told ‘em.”   Looking at the assembled crowd he shakes his head,   “I’m nae telling ‘em.”  

Helena for her part pauses and gently shakes her head.   ”I do not think I’m best suited either. They don’t know me that well, I think it may be best from someone who knows what they are talking about …”   as she looks at Drake, Sal and Camael,   “Or their mayor?”  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Helena and Grum will decline suggesting that someone with higher diplomacy take over. Neither have been that successful in their own attempts to persuade the people they’ve talked to
 
lostsole31
Cam nudges that Sal should be the one to speak, since he is able to read people very well. Sal tells Cam that really only works with individuals, but that as an angel he has proven in the past to have a silver tongue. As they are arguing quietly over who should be the one to address the crowd, little Gwennid approaches the center of the congregation.

Though creepy, strange, and otherworldly themselves, androgynous in a completely undefining way, and veiled with strange vegetable habiliments to boot, yet Gwennid's higher-pitched pierces the subdued air with appropriate solemness and a verve that now all the PCs realize that Cam and Sal could not match without help. Gwennid explains the situation, and does so with the forcefulness that Helena lacks, and with the respect for the audience that Grum cannot invoke.

The people of Roslar’s Coffer stir and murmur uncomfortably, but a look of placid acceptance begins to spread. One by one, the figures in the audience begin to exude a warm glow. As her own light slowly brightens, Mayor Grive turns back to speak.   “I suppose, at least, there will still be someone on the other side who still remembers us. Just please, promise me that you’ll find out what happened to us when you get back, and that you’ll go to the capital and tell them what killed the people of Roslar’s Coffer.”
  
  "I and Helena, each in our own way,"   says Camael,   "will consider this a sacred duty."  

And with that, it is time to return to report your success to Umble and Thoot.
lostsole31
  
 
When the PCs report their success to Umble and Thoot, Umble explains that psychopomps must often come and go from the Material Plane. Unlike many outsiders, psychopomps can’t inherently travel between planes; instead, they take a series of extraplanar pathways called the Dead Roads, maintained by the psychopomp usher Barzahk the Passage. Umble and Thoot know which Dead Roads connect the Boneyard to Lastwall on Golarion, allowing the PCs to return to Roslar’s Coffer.

The Dead Roads resemble a raised roadway approximately 15–20 feet across. The exact appearance of the Dead Roads varies according to who sees them and that individual’s own understanding of the word “road,” but, in general, the Dead Roads are unremarkable, winding, and devoid of signs. To either side of the road, the ground slopes away steeply into silvery mist. Creatures that leave the road and enter the mist find themselves wandering the back hills of the Boneyard. Only the occasional way station—buildings varying widely in appearance and acting as tent pegs holding the extraplanar network in place—break up the gloomy monotony.

Now that they now what the Dead Roads are, and assuming the PCs are ready to take them, Umble says,  “Well then, yes, I suppose we are prepared. The ritual is quite simple, but I must ask you not to pay too close attention, as we’re not technically empowered to perform this bit of extrajurisdictational transposition.

“Like most things involving psychopomps, the Dead Roads rely on a complex bureaucracy. They’re maintained by Barzahk the Passage to allow us to come and go, but creatures of... of non-psychopompological nature need authorization to prevent abuse. Specially appointed bureaucrats control way stations along the routes, and can offer a stamp on your body to pass freely. Without a stamp of passage, beings tend to, oh... ‘slide off’ the Dead Roads and land back here—hopefully. We never did locate more than a few fingers from that one poor waywardarian Keleshyte who found his way in.

“The route to Roslar’s Coffer passes three way stations: the Palace of Teeth, a manor called Nine-Eaves, and Salighara’s Scriptorium. You’ll need to stop at all three to make your pilgrimage back to Lastwall. Each way station master will probably charge for passage. Given your pauparian circumstances, I assume they’ll trade services. I hope.”
 
She continues to explain that The Dead Roads aren’t straight, instead crossing over and around each other in a complicated network; as a result, the PCs can approach the three way stations in any order. Umble strongly recommends the Palace of Teeth first, as it is the “closest” and the easiest to retreat from, should the PCs need to return.
DrK
Helena had watched the two fade away with sadness but was happier at the prospect of getting out of the Dead Roads if they managed to get through these three locations.   "What do these stamps look like?"   she asks the pair of pyschopomps as they explain what to do?

  "I dinnae like the sound O' Paladce of teeth..."   Grum chips in, but then shrugs,   "Nae a care which we go tae first/ That ones seems as good as any other."   He'll add looking around to the trio of strange men and Gwen for agreement.

Helen for her part looks at her quiver where only 4 finely fletched arrows remain.   "Only 4 left. I shall try and use them wisely.."   she adds.   "If any of you see any more please let me know."   she asks gently to the others.

Grum nods.   "Aye I will do lass. Bad thing to be running so short. Maybe at the Palace o' teeth or one of the others they'll have some more eh?"  
lostsole31
(The two of ... what ... fade away?)

At Helena's question about recognition of the stamps. Umble says in an embarrassed warble,   "I am sorry. I feel much bashfulation that I am without comprehensibility on how to identify the stamps. Hopesomenessly, that may be something you can figurate?"  

Regarding Grum mentioning the Palace of Teeth, Umble says,  “It’s a small castle constructed by... I say, Thoot, who constructed it? I’ve no idea, actually. Its current occupants are malicious little pixies who collect teeth. Rather pesky. They raid the graves of the Boneyard, so I imagine they’ll accept a few teeth in trade.” 

Drake and Sal both grumble and say at the same time, knowingly,   "Ugh. Tooth fairies.  

Drake asks,   "Why do a bunch of psycho tooth fairies want to control one of the psychopomp way stations?"  
 
“I cannot even fathom Barzahk’s reasoning regarding this appointment, but positions staffing the Dead Roads are far from coveted among my normally quite sociable kind. I imagine it pertains to a case of prolonged occupancy implying a certain element of ownership.” 
DrK
Grum looks at the men,   "What be wrong with the fairy? I thought fairy's were friendly wee beasties?"   He at Helen and Gwen seeing if any of them can expand upon the thinking of the worry about tooth fairies.
lostsole31
  "What, tooth fairies?! No,"   says Drake.   "Ancient European monsters that would sometimes do more than raid graveyards, but seek out the living for their teeth as well. Tiny creatures, but swarmers."  
DrK
Grum shakes his head and grimaces   "Sad times. I be missing the full dwarven helm that covers the teeth"  . Helena shivers and covers her mouth,   "I guess no-one will smile too much at this palace then."   she adds.

Motioning down the oath she starts walking down the road towards where Umble and Thoot had directed them.   "I wonder how long it will take us to get there? Does anyone need to rest?"   she asks the group at large. Grum shaking his head to say "no".
lostsole31
Nobody offers a need to rest, and so the group begins walking the Dead Roads.

It takes three hours of walking by foot before you get to a site that abuts the Dead Roads. This tall, narrow castle rises from atop a hill near the road. Constructed of weathered wood and ivory-colored stone, the building is studded with thousands upon thousands of teeth, arranged in neat rows and spirals. The castle’s only windows are high and narrow. A tall gatehouse leads into a courtyard, its floor paved with yellowish bricks and old teeth.

Although the castle is primarily made of fine marble and wood, teeth are used as decoration throughout, giving it a macabre feel and a drab, yellowish color. Twilight is the order of the day on the dead roads, but the heroes see much brighter light escaping small slits on the second and third floors of this castle, a tell-tale of bright, artificial light inside at least some of the castle.

It has been almost a full day with Roslar's Tomb, working with the citizens of Roslar's Coffer, and travel here. But not yet enough that you would be force marching just to begin exploration. Also, who knows what lurks along the Dead Roads should you decide to bivouac out here, instead.

What do you do?
DrK
Helena looks at the keep and whistles through her teeth.   "Not exactly friendly looking place"   she suggests to the others staring at the tooth covered ramparts and walls.  She draws her blade from her waist, flexing it slightly,   "Lets hope I an find more arrows in here".  

Grum nods,   "Aye lass, I'd feel better if ye had a bow in hand. But it no be looking nice."   he stomps up to the door and has a slow look around the gateway, ears and eyes alert for danger...
lostsole31
Grum moves up to the field of rubble to what is a passageway in a gatehouse, the only visible entrance into what must assuredly be the Palace of Teeth. Just before Grum gets too far in, he thinks there is some type of trap their, and he notes a large bundle of teeth hanging overhead. The passage is about 6' wide and 10' high.
lostsole31
The brothers go up to take a look at why Grum stopped.

  "Alright, let me and my brother handle this,"   says Drake.

With Camael using his mace to provide light (remember the fire beetle guts?), Drake assists Sal in carefully. The boys just barely manage to disarm the trap.

  "It was a type of 'clattering teeth trap,"   explains Sal.   "Really hard to spot, and a pressure plate would snip the line holding up all those teeth and would have made a hell of a racket. It was a noisemaker designed to alert the denizens to .... us."  

Now what?
DrK
Grum nods his thanks,   "Nice job lads. Would be nasty I'm sure tae set off a trap, even if was just a noisy one."   Helena standing nearby nods in agreement,   "Oh yes. Please keep an eye out for any arrows you may find? I am very low on them."  

Helena nods at the gateway as Grum hefts the blade shifting into the offensive titan blade stance, ready for what may threaten them as h heads through the gate slowly and carefully, eyes scanning for any danger.
lostsole31
Grum pushes past into the space beyond. This small courtyard is  surrounded by walls 12 feet tall. High above, an arched bridge spans the  courtyard from north to south. The courtyard is paved with bricks and  teeth in intricate floral arrangements.

A narrow passage to the  south leads outside, while an ornate wooden double door studded with  whorls and spirals of humanoid teeth stands opposite the passage,  leading to the north.

A heavy wooden door stands on each side of  the passageway in the south wall. The handle of the east door has been  removed, leaving a gaping hole. The west door is secured with an  elaborate lock, supplemented with an additional lock and handle,  apparently from the east door.

As the rest of the party spills into this courtyard, they find they are not alone!

 Surprise Round! 
 S17:   There is a magical emanation to the west that blow softly over the back  rank of the party. Gwennid slumps to the ground, breathing softly but  unconscious.

 S14:  Though just as surprised as  everyone else, Camael's strange nature allows him to act in a flow of  time not understood or easily reached by mortals. He steps over by what  caused the emanation and hits it with his mace for  10 mod + disabled .

 S10:   On the other side of the party, more magical emanation but crossing to  the far side, and Camael's mace clangs to the ground as he now drifts to  the ground, asleep.

 S9:  From the northwest  corner of the alcove with the double doors ... another magical  emanation. Sal now tumbles to the ground, asleep.

 S7:  An emanation from the far west of the courtyard.

Grum and Helena, roll a Will save ....
DrK
 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Grum will save  (1d20+8)[ 12 ]  (+4 if steel soul saves vs spells applies)

Helen Will save  (1d20+5)[ 22 ] 
 
lostsole31
 S7:  Helena easily resists, but Grum only resists by  mentally calling on his dwarven ancestors to protect him, for he feels  slow and lethargic of limb, yet fights off the effect. Drake, likewise,  completely ignores the effect.

 S6:  Finally, another emanation from the ENE.   Grum  and  Helena , Will save again ....
DrK
Helena shakes her head,   "Ugh.. what is this."   she gasps as Grum grinds his teeth. Hands tightening on hi blade as he tires to focus

 
 Spoiler: Will Saves 


Grum will save  (1d20+8)[ 9 ]  (+4 if steel soul saves vs spells applies)

Helen Will save  (1d20+5)[ 9 ] 
 
lostsole31
 S6 (Cont'd):  Helena shakes her head to speak, but the  combined weight of several of these magic attacks prove enough to drop  both Helena and Grum!
lostsole31
The Windchaser boys are waking everyone up, and they say not to attack the tooth fairies ... well, Drake says that more begrudgingly, but Sal is the one mainly giving the message.

  "One threatened to rip out Cam's throat,"   says Sal, who apparently was woken by Drake.   "So, I played a hunch and spoke in French and surrendered. They actually didn't try to force teeth or anything once the surrender was made, but they mentioned that their leader is the 'powerful and crafty' Prince Uspid. They pointed our way to the northern double doors to seek audience."  
 Grum, Helena  ... the hot-headed Drake is controlling his actions (though not his completely unveiled contempt for the creatures) ... do you descend into hostilities as a point of (wounded) pride or get back into formation and head to the double doors?
DrK
Helena instinctively raises a hand to her mouth before breathing a sigh of relief as she finds her teeth intact. Pulling to her feet she slings her bow into her back but keeps a hand by her weapon hilt.   ”A Prince they say. Very well. By the way what is French?”   she asks with a look at Drake and Sal.

Grum rolls to his feet, the Juggernaught blade dragging on the floor with a loud scrape. He looks at Drake,   ”Little fey scum.”   he snarls. Then taking a deep breath he sighs heavily,   “Aye let’s see this Prince of fey. And drive a blade down his tiny throat.”  
lostsole31
Grum and Drake lead the way forward and go to the double doors. No traps are detected, so the two in front open the doors. This ornate room spans the entire width of the palace. The north end consists of a floor-to-ceiling stained-glass mural of skeletal knights with halos surrounding an angelic figure. Globs of metal and bits of teeth affixed to the stained-glass angel give it a repulsive appearance, with a mouth far too wide and teeth attached to its fingertips. On either side of the stained-glass mural are two delicate archways. From the room beyond comes the faint sound of flowing water.

The southern wall of the room contains two alcoves and a double door.

What now?
DrK
Grum looks at the strange murals with the teeth affixed everywhere and shakes his head.    "Aye, this be disturbing. A mess aye, I dinnae' trust these tricky fey."    He walks cautiously forward to look around the room cautiously, stopping in the centre of the room to look around carefully.

Helena follows him in, pulling out the ornate silver longsword and checking the grip on her buckler. She looks at the blade with a grimace and then with a worse grimace at her nearly quiver hanging at her waist.   "A strange place, these fey have not helped with the decorations."   She'll advance to look at the glass windows and the stained glass window.
lostsole31
As soon as Helena even begins to step forward towards the stained glass  decoration, the stained glass angel steps down to the ground as a shock  to nobody but Drake.

 Surprise Round ...

S21:   Sal moves in quickly with bow in hand.    "Stained glass angel!"   he calls out in warning.

 S19:  The sound of flapping wings, and suddenly Camael is right next to Helena with mace and shield.

 S18:   Helena , it is a surprise round (and all that entails). What do you do?
DrK
Helena looks at the creature trying o work out manner of beast it is. As she does she steps eastwards back towards the door as  she summons a glowing cape of force tha wraps arond her.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

5ft south and cast mage armour
 
lostsole31
 S18:  Helena looks at the creature trying to work out manner of beast it is. As  she does, she steps eastwards back towards the door as  she summons a  glowing cape of force that wraps around her before slowly disappearing from view (but still extant).

 S15:  The stained glass angel follows after Helena, and reaches out with an arm to slash her upper right arm with jagged claws for  7 .

 S12:   Grum , it is a surprise round (and all that entails). What do you do?
DrK
  ye bast***”   Grum exclaims as the creature leaps free of the mirror. Leaping forwards he extended the massive blade swinging hard

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Swift: titanic swings mode (if not already)
Free: 5ft west
Standard: chop with power attack
 (1d20+8)[ 27 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 18 ] 
 
DrK
 
 Spoiler: Threat 


Critical threat  (1d20+8)[ 26 ] 
Critical roll effect if needed  (1d20)[ 5 ] 
 
lostsole31
 S12:    "Ye bas(tion of artistic glassblower's expression)!”    Grum exclaims as the creature leaps free of the mirror. Leaping  forwards, he swings hard, extending the massive blade across the expanse  he extended the massive blade swinging hard to strike the thing with a  light crit for  20 mod .

 S7:  Gwennid repositions to the north of the stained glass angel.

 Begin Round One ...

R1T21:  Sal concentrates, and a shimmering field of force appears in front of him briefly before disappearing. He then repositions.

 R1T19:   The sound of flapping wings, and Camael appears flanking the angel with  Helena. He strikes the angel from behind with a power strike from his  mace for  14 mod .

 R1T18:   Helena , what do you do?
DrK
As Grum and Camael arrive Helen breathes a sigh of relief, melee combat was never her favourite! She darts in low, her Silver Crane training seeking to invigorate her as she steps lightly as if in a waltz

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Swift: enter silver crane waltz stance
Standard: enduring crane strike
 (1d20+6)[ 25 ]  dam  (1d8)[ 5 ]  and heal self  (1d6+3)[ 4 ] 
** Flanking bonus not included
 
DrK
 
 Spoiler: Critical threat  

Flat d20  (1d20)[ 10 ] 
Damage if needed  (1d8)[ 3 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R1T18:  As Grum and Camael arrive Helen breathes a sigh  of relief - melee combat  was never her favorite! She darts in low, her Silver Crane training  seeking to invigorate her as she steps lightly as if in a waltz. She  cuts deeply across the lower torso-equivalent area; the blow that would  have disemboweled a man instead shatters and destroys the stained glass  angel while also healing Helena for   4  .

 Combat Ended! 
DrK
Helena looks at her arm where there is still a small gash and shakes her head.   "A nasty creation. The teeth make it more sinister certainly."   Prodding it with her feet she looks at the two warriors,   "Thank you very much for the help, it hit hard and was very sharp."  

Grum nods,   "Anytime, I can always help."    he grunts and stomps on the glass a few times for a few more times.   "A strange beast."   nodding towards to the doors,   "Do we press on in."  
lostsole31
  "If we did press on in,"   says Camael,   "we wouldn't go back through the doors, but forward north through one open archway or the other. But, yes."  
  "Do we push through one archway together, or split up?"   asks Drake.
DrK
Helena looks at the broken statue and nods at the nearest archway.   ”If there is anything else like that I’d like to stick together. I won’t think we are lucky enough that’s all there is.”  

Grum beside her nods.   ”Aye and this time stay behind me lass.”   he grunts as he steps in front blade held cautiously in hand as he moves towards the nearest archway
lostsole31
The group travels north through the archway.

A wide stair ascends to the north, splitting into two graceful arches leading to a balcony that rings this room. The banisters are all made of elegant wrought iron, with teeth jutting from the ironwork and affixed to the railing. Three hanging lanterns of cut crystal illuminate the room. An elaborate fountain bubbles merrily in the center of the room, spilling water down a series of stylized flowers into a wide basin below. Teeth have been scattered in this fountain, partially obscuring a colorful mosaic in the basin.

Two archways open into a room to the south (you entered from the southwestern one).

Just then, a quintet of tooth fairies that were lurking under the stairs, hiding atop the lanterns, and bathing in the fountain fly safely out of reach of weapons and spread out. One of them calls out, and has its little hands up with the symbol of "four."

Gwennid says,   "They demand a toll of four teeth to be able to pass up the stairs. He specified newly removed teeth with the stink of blood and spit, not the 'dead' teeth you can find all over the place."  
DrK
Helena looks appalled, clasping a hand over her mouth, whilst Grum shakes his head snarling,   "Tell 'em no, Hells no"  . He eyes the fairies angrily weapon ready,   "They can get my tee'f over my dead body"  
lostsole31
Gwennid nods, realizing what's about to happen, and passes along the message.

The lead tooth fairy calls out to the others what seems to be a war cry,   "Attaquez, pour le prince et le château !"  
 Begin Round One!

R1T22:   Drake still had pistol and machete in hand. He makes a quick study of  the nearest tooth fairy, but then targets one a bit farther away to the  northwest. Everyone had just about forgotten about the terrifically loud  sound that comes out of his weapon as he strikes Red for 7 mod.   "Typical fairy BS .... partially resistant to weaponry."   He  then moves to the east, but still stays near Helena, as he has come to  discover that every now and then she gives good defensive advice.

 R1T21:  Purple concentrates, and a wave of soporific energy hits by Grum and Helena, and washes over Drake and Gwennid as well.

 Grum  and  Helena , roll a Will save!
DrK
 
 Spoiler: Will Saves 


Grum will save  (1d20+8)[ 15 ]  +4 if its a spell or spell like ability, +4 if its mind affecting from Lions Heart veil, +1 from Helena's Aegis if she's w/in 10ft

Helena Will save  (1d20+5)[ 25 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R1T21:  Grum, Helena, and Gwennid resist ... but the  last shall be first, and this time Drake's weapons clatter to the ground  as he slowly drops and falls asleep.  Purple repositions to the west  of the room.

 R1T20:  Sal repositions to the east and quickly wakens brother.

 R1T18:  Blue sends forth magic waves over Grum, Helena, Gwennid, and Camael.

 Grum  and  Helena  ... Will saves again!
DrK
 
 Spoiler: Will Saves 


Grum will save  (1d20+8)[ 16 ]  +4 if its a spell or spell like ability, +4 if its mind affecting from Lions Heart veil, +1 from Helena's Aegis if she's w/in 10ft

Helena Will save  (1d20+5)[ 24 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R1T18 (Cont'd):   This time, it is Gwennid who falls to the ground asleep.  Blue repositions.

 R1T14:   Grum , what do you do? All of the tooth fairies are at a height of 10' right now.
DrK
Grum looks at Gwen, then is relieved as she is still breathing. He looks to the nearest fairy flying above the fountain and the massive Juggernaught blade,   ”an error beastie…”  
He moves towards the little creature before lunging upwards with savage force

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Move: 10ft south
Swift: vigilant keeper stance
Standard: tactical strike  (1d20+9)[ 20 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 15 ]  hoping that 10ft reach will get it
 
lostsole31
 R1T14:  Grum looks at Gwen, then is relieved as she is still breathing. He looks  to the nearest fairy flying above the fountain and the massive juggernaught blade,   ”An error beastie…”  
He moves towards the little creature before lunging upwards with savage force for  13 mod , knocking it out of the air and into the fountain below, sinking to the bottom.

 R1T11-9:   Brown and Red fly about, and after having seen Grum in action, fly to a  height of 15'. Two more waves of sleep energy roll forth. One include  Drake and Sal, and the other includes Grum, Helena, and Camael.

 Grum  and  Helena , roll Will saves ...
lostsole31
 R1T11-9:  Helena finds herself sleepy, dropping her  longsword and falling to the ground asleep. Drake also takes a snooze  again, since he's on the ground already.

 R1T5:  Camael wakes Gwennid.

 R1T4:  Gwennid, awakened, gets to her feet, steps to the northwest, and reforming her light-spear throws it at Brown for   7 akashic  .

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T22:  Drake snores.

 R2T21:   Purple flies in towards Helena, trying to be tricky towards the end but  wasn't tricky enough as Grum's great blade swings at it but misses the  tiny beast.  Purple tries to bite the fallen Helena, but obviously  doesn't understand that armor isn't skin.

 R2T20:  Sal wakes up Drake.

 R2T18:  Blue darts in to Helena now, but Grum was distracted by the other fairy. It bites Helena for  3 , but the pain of that bite doesn't seem to wake Helena for some reason.

 R2T14:   Grum ,  what do you do? There are two fey buzzing around Helena, but that  massive blade of yours .... it's a tough sell that you would hit a fairy  and not Helena.

Enemies on deck and in the hole ...
DrK
Grum stomps down beside Helena and twists the blade spinning to use the hilt effectively in the cramped quarters as he swings hard to crush the fey

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Move: Move to Helena
Standard: Scything strike on Purple and Blue
  *  (1d20+8)[ 28 ]  vs both fey, if miss then one of them takes 4 from Titant blade
  * dam  (2d6+10)[ 18 ]  vs both fey

Edit: To clarify he's using the hilt for the shield bash option
 
lostsole31
 R2T14:  Grum stomps down beside Helena and twists the blade spinning to use the  hilt effectively in the cramped quarters as he swings hard to crush the  fey for  12 mod  apiece, dropping them both! Meanwhile, Grum's inspiration catches up to him.

 R2T11-9:  Brown can't help itself with teeth waiting to be plucked and flies in, only to get hit by Grum for  15 mod , killing it. Red finally gets in while the dwarf is distracted to bite Helena for  1 NL .

 R2T6:  Helena snores softly.

 R2T5:   Camael disappears and reappears by Helena across from Grum. He swings  and misses, and then swings even faster again, hitting with the second  against Red for  11 mod , dropping it.

 Initiative Ends! 

The pile of dead fey on Helena are all CDG'd.
DrK
Grum spins, scanning the ceiling for anymore of the savage little beasts that may be flying or attacking them. He nods happily to Camael   "Nicely done. Nasty wee beggars"   He then kneels beside Helena and gently gives her a shake.  "Aye love, time to wake up eh.."  
lostsole31
Drake hands Helena her fallen longsword.

  "Are we going to look around, or charge about?"   asks Sal, with a pointed look at Grum.
DrK
Grum after checking Helena is up and awake shakes his head,   "A slower approach here, these be tricksy little swine"   he suggests. Helping Helena up to her feet she will grasp his hand,   "My thanks. I feel that could have gone worse."   Grum nods,   "Aye lass. Here, they snagged ye."   he offers reaching out a hand to brush it over the injury

 
 Spoiler: Fervour 

 (1d6)[ 4 ]  healing
 


THen he'll look about, suggesting to Camael,   "Each take one side of the fountain and search about before we head upstairs?"   Helena nods agreement and after checking she still has her weapons and sweeps the fountain and the room slowly with her magical detection

 
 Spoiler: Helena 

Cast detect magic and sweep the room
 
lostsole31
It takes 2-1/2 hours to search through everything in this grand staircase room.

Once elegant and impressive, the grand staircase in this room has been “improved” with added teeth wherever possible. Visitors were expected to meditate at the fountain before ascending the stairs; to aid this, the fountain’s basin shows the “proper” way to ascend the grand staircase. The mosaic isn’t initially clear, because hundreds of humanoid teeth are scattered atop it. But part of the search included clearing these teeth away, and the mosaic shows several skeletons in formal attire ascending and descending the stairs while chatting merrily. Once the mosaic is cleared, recognizes that the skeletons are skipping certain stair steps in a pattern.

There are three hanging crystal lanterns that are each enchanted with  continual flame  spells, worth 150 gp apiece.  Do you rob the place and take them?

It should be noted as well that people are starting to feel the effects of a long day. Sal's  ant haul  spell lapsed in that first hour of searching and he had to take his pack off to be comfortable.  Helena's  mage armor  has been running throughout, but this was her second casting.

What now?
DrK
Helena looks at the fountain and then at the stairs and smiles,   "Shall we head upstairs, but follow the steps on the fountain to dance up perhaps? I would wonder if there is a trap of some sort if we do not"   she adds, the levity turning grim.

Grum nods,   "Aye lassie. A wise choice I reckon. This place no be nice."   He looks at the three brother and Gwn,   "Ye lads got one more floor in ye?"   he asks,   "if we find a secure room upstairs we can settle down fer a rest."  
lostsole31
Sal puts his pack back on and nods.

Grum begins up the stairs, followed by the others, all attempting to do the complicated stairs arrangement as before.

 Grum  and  Helena , roll Acrobatics ...
DrK
 
 Spoiler: Acrobatics 


Grum, Dwarves are clearly not natural dancers  (1d20-5)[ 7 ] 
Helena  (1d20+9)[ 25 ] 
 
lostsole31
It's less about being a dancer, and more about having short dwarven legs that makes it hard for Grum to bound about back and forth, skipping stairs. He is very sure he makes a right mess of it. The nice thing is that it doesn't seem to set off a trap, so after a bit Grum figures it just doesn't matter anymore, and he clomps his way up the stairs normally.

He's in good company, though. Gwennid could simply fly, but challenges herself, but with even smaller legs than Grum's, she fails.

Drake stumbles about as well. He's agile, but he still goofs it. Even worse is Sal ... who has the legs but they are gangly and he nearly hurts himself in a fall but for Drake catching him.

Camael makes the proper sequence without any aesthetic showmanship .... purely technical.

Meanwhile, Helena is a right vision as she twirls from step to step as required.

Once at the top, Helena and Camael both feel a surge of confidence.

A narrow balcony surrounds the grand staircase and the fountain below. Stairs descend from the east and west and two hallways lead south.

The center of the south wall contains a small stage, raised two feet above the ground. The backdrop of the stage is a grimy city street, with a red-and-white striped pole. The stage contains a doll-sized reclining chair. A doll lies in the chair, its bloody mouth open wide. A second doll stands over the first, clad in a blood-spattered white smock like a barber-dentist, triumphantly holding aloft an extracted tooth.
DrK
Grum shakes his head,   ”We dinnae all get dancing lessons in the Manor House’s lass.”   at Helena as she slips up the stairs. Stomping to the top he spies the disturbing display,   “That be disturbing…”   as he starts to approach the display slowly motioning Helena and Gwen to stay behind him

Helena reaches the top of the stairs, happily then stops.   ”What is that!”   she says as she then nods to Grum and with sword in hand follows the dwarf towards it
lostsole31
Gwennid follows Helena, as the other three track down the eastern side. Both groups, once at the far end of the balcony to the south, see that both hallways continue south, but the group turn inwards to study whatever the diorama is about.

It is a diorama with wooden dolls - one seems to be a barber, and the other a patient. As the PCs approach, the dolls animate and the barber doll calls out,   "Next patient, please!"   while the other doll rises from the chair, hand over its bloody mouth. A red-and-white striped pole gleams next to the diorama. They don't attack, but seem still now, as if waiting for something.

What do you do?
DrK
Grum looks at the diorama and then shakes his head at the words.   "Don't bloody look at me aye.. I be fine wit' me teeth."   he grunts, making sure to keep his arms loose and ready for action.

Helena is a little more cautious, still holding her blade. Gazing at the scene she shakes her head answering politely,   "I think we are okay, but my thanks."   Eyeing the scene carefully she invokes a cantrip sweeping her gaze over the stage seeking to  detect magical  auras as she tries to work out if they are puppets, spirits or some of animated creature.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Grum waits patiently, weapon in hand
Helena casts  detect magic 
 
lostsole31
Helena casts a spell, and the cone covers only the patient and part of  the diorama from her current position. She does not detect any magic.

 Begin Round One ... 
 R25-23:  With nobody volunteering and Helena casting a  spell, both dolls leap into action. Both of them pull back some on the  table - less than 5' but enough that cover now protects them from any  immediate counterattacks. They both are still for a second, and then  waves of magic wash over the hereoes.

Camael and Sal both asleep on the other side.

On the "your" side,  Helena , and  Grum , roll TWO Will saves ...
DrK
 
 Spoiler: Will Saves 


Grum  (1d20+8)[ 26 ]  and  (1d20+8)[ 20 ]  +4 vs poison and spells, +4 also vs mind affecting

Helena  (1d20+5)[ 20 ]   (1d20+5)[ 16 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R25-23:  Between the two bursts that cover the entire  party, the whole eastern flank of heroes falls asleep, while Gwennid,  Grum, and Helena are fine.

 R1T14:  A vine springs from Gwennid's hand to grab the nearest doll's dagger and bring it back to Gwennid's hand.

 R1T13:   Grum , with initiative your  juggernaut blade  is not in a fighting form. What do you do?
DrK
As some of the party collapse Grum snarls,   "Ye scum.."   as he swtches his blade to the massive and more aggressive titanic form as he swings seeking to cut down both creatures in a single swing

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Swift: Enter Titanic Swings
Standard. Attack the barber [tactical strke]
    (1d20+8)[ 11 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 16 ]  (and 4 to adjacent one if I hit)
 
lostsole31
 R1T13:  As some of the party collapse, Grum snarls,   "Ye scum.."    as he switches his blade to the massive and more aggressive titanic  form, seeking to cut down both creatures in a single swing, but using  the table with some help they both duck below the clumsy blade.

 R1T8:   Helena , what do you do?
DrK
Helena ducks back as bits of wood spray from Grum's wild chop, but she steps in, lunging with the silvery blade, a murmured   "These dead roads are aptly named"  "  as she goes to skewer the creature nearest swaying and spinning as she does so.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Swift: Adopt Silver crane waltz stance
Standar: Silver strike [risky strike]  (1d20+5)[ 16 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 20 ]  dam  (1d8+2)[ 3 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R1T8:  Helena ducks back as bits of wood spray from Grum's wild chop, but she steps in, lunging with the silvery blade, a murmured,   "These dead roads are aptly named,"   as  she goes to skewer the creature nearest her, swaying and spinning as  she does so. Her sword clacks against the patient-doll, but doesn't go  very deep, doing only  1 mod .

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T25-23:   The barber-doll hops off the table next to Sal, followed by the patient doll.

 R2T14:   Gwennid former her light-spear, striking the diorama ... and the whole  diorama and table collapse with a metallic clattering of the striped  barber pole. The table area is difficult terrain, but not longer  provides any cover from the dolls.

 R2T13:   Grum , what do you do ... sleeping bodies and fallen table/diorama are all difficult terrain.

Helena on deck, dolls in the hole ...
DrK
As the plant whips him back Akif bellows in rage and spins around with shield and spear, jabbing forward repeatedly even as he bellows an  encouraging roar  for his fiends to goad them into attacking

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Swift: Encouraging roar boost (+2 hit/dam for allies)
Full: Full attack with spear [risky strike] (Encouraging roar not included)
   (1d20+16)[ 25 ]  dam  (3d6+17)[ 24 ] 
 (1d20+11)[ 19 ]  dam  (3d6+17)[ 27 ] 

If attacked: Use Defensive Prowess to use Iron Shell  to try and negate attack
Counter rolls   (1d20+18)[ 26 ] 
EDIT: typo, should have been +19

If use counter freeattack with Vanguard strike
 (1d20+19)[ 29 ]  dam  (2d6+12)[ 16 ] 
 
DrK
As bits of furniture fly about Grum shifts into a slightly defensive posture, sword flicking out as he swings once more at the tiny barber surgeon, again trying to cleave into his friend

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Swift: Enter vigliant keeper stance
Standard: Attack the barber surgeon [risky strike]  (1d20+8)[ 15 ]   dam  (2d6+10)[ 15 ] 
  * [4] if miss
  * [4] to other one if I hit
 
lostsole31
 R2T13:  As bits of furniture fly about Grum shifts into a slightly defensive  posture, sword flicking out as he swings once more at the tiny barber  surgeon, striking it for  13 mod  (and  2 mod  collateral to the patient-doll). It seems this little doll of wood is a lot tougher than expected.

 R2T8:   Helena , what do you do?

Enemies on deck/ in the hole ...
DrK
Helena nods grimly as Grum chops down on the creature and follows suit attacking the ugly little barber doll, swinging the alchemical blade as hard as she can

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

move SE
Risky strike the dentist  (1d20+5)[ 23 ]  dam  (1d8+2)[ 8 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R2T8:  Helena nods grimly as Grum chops down on the creature and follows suit  attacking the ugly little barber doll, swinging the alchemical blade as  hard as she can for  6 mod .

 End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T25:   The doll positions its blade at Sal's throat and pauses. Helena takes  advantage of the AOO to strike the barber with a glancing blow that does   2 mod . That doesn't stop it, and then it pulls its  dagger across Sal's throat. Helena thinks to stop it, but the pull of  the dagger isn't an attack roll ... it simply is a movement of a weapon  against a helpless opponent, meaning that even her  intercepting shade  isn't enough to help. Arterial pulsation and venal spray go everywhere.

Sal is no longer sleeping.

 R3T23:  The doll patient steps over to Drake, looking to protect herself from any attacks, though she/it no longer has her dagger.

 R3T14:  Gwennid tosses the tiny dagger over the railing and flies over to the other side and checks on Sal.   "I am no healer,  " she says as arterial spray coats her in a red patina despite diminishing in strength and volume,   "but I don't think this mortal is still alive."  
 R3T13:   Grum , what do you do?

Helena on deck, barber-doll in the hole ...
DrK
Grum lets out a cry,   "No... ye murdering scum"   he shouts as this time he leaps towards Drake and gives the man a solid kick in the shin,   "Get up, wake ye rascal..."   as he hopes Drake wakes enough to defend himself.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


free: 5ft NE
Standard: use a standard action to wake up drake.
 
lostsole31
 R3T13:    "No... ye murdering scum"   Grum shouts as he leaps towards Drake by standing over Camael's prone body, and gives the man a solid kick in the shin,   "Get up, wake ye rascal..."  .

Drake's eyes begin to flutter as his light snoring stops.

 R3T9:  Drake stands, covered in blood. He draws his machete as he tries to gather his wits.

 R3T8:   Helena , what do you do? You are covered in Sal's blood.

Enemies on deck and in the hole ...
DrK
Seeing Drake waking and still horrified by Sal's death Helena chokes out a   "Drake.. we are so sorry..."   before she leaps forward and gives Camael a vigorous shake to awaken him as well to avoid him suffering Sal's fate.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Standard action wake up Camael
 
lostsole31
 R3T8:  Seeing Drake waking and still horrified by Sal's death Helena chokes out a   "Drake.. we are so sorry..."   before she leaps forward and gives Camael a vigorous shake to awaken him as well to avoid him suffering Sal's fate.

 R3T5:  Camael awakens, and then crawls behind Grum before standing, his mace still under Grum's stance.

 End Round 3, Begin Round 4 ...

R4T25-23:  The barber-doll moves over to Drake, but not before Grum and Helena both swing and harmlessly clip it. It stabs Drake for  1 NL . The patient-doll goes to pound on his face but Drake elbows it for  8 mod .

 R4T14:   A silvery diadem appears on Gwennid's head as she stares at the  barber-doll. A tiny gem on the diadem flashes the barber-dolls eyes,  dazing  it.

 R4T13:   Grum , what do you do?

Drake on deck, Helena in the hole ...
DrK
Grum growls at the barber doll and hefts the juggernaught blade and swings hard,   "Enough vile beastie"   he grunts as he chops down hard

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Risky strike  (1d20+8)[ 11 ]  dam  (2d6+9)[ 16 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R4T13:  Grum growls at the barber doll and hefts the  juggernaut blade  and swings hard,   "Enough vile beastie"    he grunts as he chops down hard. Confoundit if that little bugger isn't  fast as it avoids the raging dwarves' blade despite being dazed.

 R4T9:   Drake shouts in anguish and takes in an eyeful of the barber-doll  before swing his machete to then drop on it with a soft crit for  13 mod . He almost dropped the thing as it now has a terrible rent in its main body.

 R4T8:   Helena , what do you do?

Camael on deck, enemies on deck and in the hole ...
DrK
Helena watches sadly as Drake swings, she wants to say something but isn't sure what to say to the strange outlander. Seeing the horrible doll still moving she swings down at it, a flourish as she tries to draw forth healing energies towards Drake

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Enduring crane strike vs the doll  (1d20+6)[ 8 ]  dam  (1d8)[ 7 ]  and Heal Drake  (1d6+3)[ 4 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R4T8:  Helena watches sadly as Drake swings - she wants to say something, but  isn't sure what to say to the strange outlander. Seeing the horrible  doll still moving she swings down at it, a flourish as she tries to draw  forth healing energies towards Drake, but the accursed thing dances away from her blade.

 R4T5:   Camael picks up his mace from beneath Grum's feet. The sound of  feathers flapping and he stands protectively over Sal's body. He makes  that common strike he makes ...the one that is very fast and often done  as an afterthought, and in that the barber-doll is finally destroyed.

 End Round 4, Begin Round 5 ...

R5T23:   The patient doll reaches down to pick up the barber-doll's dropped  dagger. In doing so, "she" ducks Grum's blade, but not Drake's as the  man's machete nicks her wooden body for  6 mod . As the dagger is picked up and wielded, even Helena gets in a hit for  1 mod . She reaches high and slashes Drake's lower chest for  1 NL .

 R5T14:   Gwennid forms her light-spear and crits the patient-doll in the leg for  17 , destroying it!

 Combat Ends! 

Drake  drops to his knees, putting his hands skill-lessly on the wound and  looking up with welling tears, his voice breaking as he goes.   "Cam! You have healing magic. Heal him!"  
DrK
Helena moves to help, to kneel beside Drake and offer him a comforting hand but Grum grabs her, a whispered,   "Nae lass. Gie' him a  minute. They be different tae us"    Then louder he nods to Camael,   "We'll keep a watch out"   he suggests including Gwen in the sweep of a hand that includes him and Helena. Stepping away he looks over the railing at the floor below and watches carefully around the corridor.

Helena will scan the area and look at the display they started on to see if there is any clue of the magic that powered the horrid dolls and  detecting magical  auras with a cantrip as she scans for more danger.
lostsole31
There is magic ... one aura ... and it turns out it is the red-and-white-striped barber shop pole.
DrK
Helena look at the pole surprised and concentrates for few (12) more seconds trying to work out what the aura may be before advancing forwards and trying to extract the pole and examine it carefully.
lostsole31
It is at this time that Helena - whatever she may have felt about the man - realizes that from a functional standpoint, Sal's death will leave a hole in the party, not just his brother. The man was uncannily brilliant and could see things before they happened ... new things intuitively that none would normally know. In quiet moments on the walk here, he had talked with her, and in those talks she found she had somehow become his accidental student in a variety of subjects, even if they might just be foreign subjects.

She pushes those thoughts aside, and reads the strong, magically-unaligned power of this "barber pole." It's not that she can't read the school, but rather that there is none. For now, though, it is too strong for her to figure.

Does she take it with her for now?
DrK
Helena grabs the strange short pole to take with them for the later, clearly it must be magic of some import. Then she looks at Drake dropping a had onto his shoulder,   "We are all exhausted. I saw the gate tower had doors in the courtyard, shall we retreat into one of those rooms to rest?"   she suggests. Looking about,   "I do not know what other horrors are up here but there will no doubt be more based on what we have seen so far."  

Grum looks at her and nods his head,   "Aye lassie, a good idea. Do ye need a hand carrying him?"   he asks Drake.   "I dinnae ken your traditions, but we no be leaving him here."  
lostsole31
Camael stands over the kneeling Drake who attends over his fallen brother.  Dark wings form in shadows on the walls and floor behind him as if from unseen wings and his eyes glow. He looks to Helena, Grum, and little Gwennid, all of whom feel a thrum of power from here as his eyes and a light around him become almost too hard to focus as he speaks in a voice which resonates even as the three heroes look away from the blinding light and a high-pitched tone that has only been growing in strength,      "I am Camael the seraphim, and I ...
...am an angel of the Lord."   
  
The reverberating background noise of power and high-pitched tone suddenly ends with the faint sound of wings flapping away. Helena, Grum, and Gwennid all open their eyes ... tears having been formed from perhaps looking too long before they had to shut them.  They find that there is no trace of Camael, Sal, or Drake .... other than the blood that had been shed.
DrK
Grum looks where they were and spits on the floor.   ”Aye well balls to us eh? Is that how it be?”    He snarls. Looking at Gwen and Helena he gestures at the stairs.   “Aye. We be needing a rest, either here or down by the gate seems wise eh?”  

Helena looks at the space where they were  ”Who or what was he? Could he have done that all along?”  , then as she looks around   “They’ve abandoned us and left us here. What did you know of them Gwen?”  
lostsole31
Because of her plant-like cap and veil, you only just get a glimpse of Gwen's wet eyes.   "They abandoned us!"   she cries.

It takes her a minute or two to right herself, but then she says in small, broken sobs.   "We should stay here. I doubt the first group of toothers would let us be without molestation."  
lostsole31
Gwennid's eyes then get wide ... made the more noticeable since her cap and mask cover the rest of her face.   "I don't have any food, and I'm hungry. I just realized how hungry I am."  

That is when Grum and Helena realize they don't have food, but Helena does have a full waterskin.

Do you do an adventuring "forced march" and carry on to the next, or sleep anyway on empty stomachs?
DrK
Grum looks at the open hallway and ancient fountain below and the wide corridors where they stand.   "It no be safe to sleep here in the open. I want a door and walls so I be waking up with all o' my teeth."   As Helena grabs the stick they look at the corridors stretch to the south.   "I be looking round the rest o' the floor here. If ye be thirsty drink up, I can always bring more water."  

He'll pause to allow everyone to drink using  create water  as needed to refill things.   "Lets be checking up here. sweep south, follow me and be careful."   he utters as he heads down the passage leading south in the SW edge of the building.
lostsole31
The hallway heads south for 25' before turning east.

Once at that corner, the hallways cuts all  the way across some 45' before heading north again. There is a single door here to the north some 20' down or so.

Once the three of you are at the door ... now what?
DrK
Helena pauses by the door and presses her ear against it seeing if she can hear anything on the other side. Grum with blade in hand looks around carefully,   "What do we be thinking? Kick it open and head in? Do ye hear anything?""   he asks. Clutching the sword he takes  breath,   "If there be anything in here we do be missing those strange lads."  

If they don't hear anything Grum will ease the door open to allow them to see into the room
lostsole31
As you do that, Gwennid looks around at the hallway itself. Arrow slits 2 feet high and 4 inches wide look over the courtyard to the south and the desolate moonlit landscape around the palace to the east and west.

One of the large wooden double doors Helena is listening at is open a crack, probably to allow tooth fairies to easily come and go.

As the grumsy Clum eases the door open, which then seems to be well-oiled enough to continue to swing open, yet not well-oiled to not do so without a slow, long, agonizing creak all the way, the entirety of the room is revealed. Once an elegant study, this room has floor-to-ceiling bookshelves along the walls, a pair of heavy desks, and several overstuffed chairs. Most of the books have been shredded, their pages and covers forming small nests. The chairs have all been sliced open, their stuffing removed and likewise fashioned into small nests. An unsteady chair made of stacked books stands atop the larger of the room’s two desks. Loose teeth are piled on the shelves, affixed to the ceiling, and heaped on the floors in strange, spiky patterns. The only exit from this room is a door leading south that Grum is at. Oh, and there is a larger tooth fairy with a strange type of crown attended by four more normal-looking tooth fairies.

Instead of squeaking and running to attack right away, the tooth fairies look to the obvious leader. This creature on the throne resembles a gaunt humanoid from the  waist up and a fleshy insect from the waist down - a child-sized  creature with enormous black eyes and a large jaw with a lolling tongue.  It wears a crown made of humanoid teeth and clutches a tooth-studded  scepter. He(?) holds up the tooth-studded scepter and his other hand separately and then brings then down slowly to symbolize calm among his people. Relaxing his iron scepter back onto his lap, he gestures that Grum come forward.
DrK
Helena clutches her blade,   "is it some sort of Tooth Fairy leader?"   she whispers to Gwen and Grum. The heavy set dwarf tilts his head down, mumbling slightly to not show his teeth.   "Aye, ye be a big one"   he mutters as he steps into the room cautiously, weapon held in his hand.   "We no be wanting trouble, we be tired and just be wanting tae rest."   He'll suggest, pausing in the centre of the room and making sure that Gwen and Helena are keeping close.
lostsole31
Gwennid actually steps forward after Grum and Helena have said their bit, and speaks to the tooth fairy leader in the language that the late Sal Windchaser had referred to as "French."

Gwennid tends to refer to the more attractive Helena more than Grum, but by the end of things she says to her teammates,   "This is Prince Uspid. I asked about acquiring a stamp for the Dead Roads, and he says he has the authority to grant it, but something seemed off to me when he said that. He says that if we each allow a tooth fairy to take one tooth from us as payment, he will continue negotiations."  
DrK
Helena gasps, instinctively stepping back and covering her mouth with the back of her hand,   "No.. he cannot eat my teeth. What a vile creature."   she mutters.

Grum is more blunt stepping up closer to the "Prince", before glancing to Gwen.   "Nae. Ye tell this creature no. He ain't getting my teeth and I not be happy with. If he winnae help us, we'll find someone else who can aye."  . He nods, angrily and gestures to GWen asking her to relay his objections to this Prince.
lostsole31
Once Gwennid relays this, the tooth fairy monarch strokes his very long, thin moustache and then holds up a finger. He speaks at length to Gwennid, who in turns relays in chunks what the prince says.

  "Since we won't pay him directly, he says we can pay in a 'small task,' instead. He says that his mother, Queen Carnassial, refused to honor his rightful claim as ruler, so the prince confined her to the castle’s upper level. She has been causing problems, however, yet it is not dignified to commit matricide. If the PCs eliminate her instead, the prince will grant us the passage stamp we seek. He will give us the key to the door to that area."  
DrK
Helena looks worried, but Grum grunts,   "Aye, we can be talking to the queen and sort it out. If we dinnae kill her mebbe she can help".  . Helen breathes a sigh of relief at Grum's words,   "You don't mean to kill her then?"  . Grum shrugs,   "Will be up to her aye lassie. If she be talking we can speak, if se wants a fight we'll no back down."  

Looking at the room he gazes back at the door.   "Gwen. Can ye be asking the "prince" where we could do with a rest in peace and quiet. Before we head upstairs tae' talk to the mother."  
lostsole31
After a brief conference, the prince says that he has it on good authority that the diorama on the upper story hallways has recently been destroyed. If the party sleeps there, he'll make sure they are not disturbed by his subjects or the period of one mortal sleep cycle.
DrK
Grum grunts, looking at Helena and Gwen.   ”Diorama on the gallery. He be joking surely. That did kill Sal.”   Then he shakes his head some more.   ”I can keep first watch whilst ye sleep.”    he offers to Gwen and Helena

Helena nods tiredly.  ” thank you Grum. The rest is needed.”   she says as she looks at Gwen and then follows Grum towards the diorama seeking a place that is comfortable
lostsole31
You are given leave by Prince Uspid and his court.

You try to arrange the diorama as best as possible to suit some form of sleeping section, but it is still going to be terribly difficult. Gorum's blessings make sure nobody wants for water, but everyone is hungry.  It is a brutal, tiring, exhausting rest period, as you each do the best you can.

Are you going to set up anything differently on the new day?
lostsole31
One thing to note is that Grum and Helena are fatigued (sheets updated). Only Gwennid seems to be somewhat refreshed.

Now what?
DrK
Waking in the morning, Grum grunts in pain feeling tired and weary from his night's sleep (or lack there of). He spends some time in quiet comtemplation to Gorum before changing his preparations, instead of seeking strength seeking a way to feel less tired as he channels Gorum's holy power through him to reduce the wearirness.

 
 Spoiler: Spell CHange 


With waking fatigued he'll memorise Lesser Restoration instead of Bulls strength and use the Lesser Rstoration to remove his fatigue
 


After refreshing himself he pats Helena on the shoulder,   "Sorry lass... my powers ain't what they used to"   he then pauses and beckons her to sit still.   "Gwen lass can ye keep watch fer a  while?"   he asks before sitting down and concentrating in Helena in mediation for around an hour as he reaches out with Akashic power to channel a tiny bit of his power into her.

 
 Spoiler: Essence Bound Duty 


Essence-Bound Duty (Su)
By infusing a bit of your essence into a person, you can protect them from harm, and punish those who would bring them harm. At 1st level, as a part of a 1 hour ritual, you may designate a creature other than yourself as your charge. You may only have one charge at a time, and may abandon your charge using the same one hour ritual. Creatures attacking your charge, or including them with an area of effect without including you as well have a 10% miss chance and spell failure chance. You must be within close range and have line of sight and effect to your charge for your charge to benefit from this ability. This miss chance and spell failure chance doubles while you are within 15-ft of your charge.

You may invest essence into your charge. Each point of essence invested in your charge increases this ability’s miss chance and spell failure chance by 5%. This miss chance and spell failure chance doubles while you are within 15ft of your charge.

A creature that attacks your charge becomes marked. Once per round as a free action, you may move up to 15ft towards a marked target, plus an additional 5ft for each point of essence invested in your charge. This movement must place you closer towards the marked target. Marks last for 1 minute, or until the marked creature takes damage from you, whichever comes first.

You gain a bonus to attack your veilweaving modifier against marked targets, and your attacks against marked targets deal an additional 1d6 points of damage, plus an additional 1d6 points of damage for every three veilweaving levels you possess. Damage you deal to marked targets is reinforced by an akashic pulse of power, and as such is not reduced by damage reduction, hardness, resistances, or immunities.

At 5th level, as an immediate action whenever your charge is attacked, you may move up to your speed. This movement must place you adjacent to your charge, or this ability fails. After this movement, you may redirect the triggering attack to yourself, as if you were the original recipient of the attack. The triggering creature is then marked. While you are within 15ft of your charge, your charge is immune to fear effects.
At 9th level, your charge gains hardness equal to your veilweaver level. At the start of each of their turns, they gain temporary hit points equal to the amount of essence invested in them, not to exceed twice your veilweaver level. Any effects that would improve your veil’s hardness improve your charge’s hardness, and any effect that would improve your veil’s hit points improves the maximum amount of temporary hit points your charge may gain from this ability.
At 13th level, marks now last for 1 minute, or at the end of any turn in which a marked creature takes damage from you. You are immune to to mind-affecting effects.
At 17th level, your charge becomes immune to death effects. Whenever they would take damage that would reduce them to 1 or fewer hit points, you may instead have them reduced to 1 hit point. If you do, any damage in excess of this is transferred to you. This damage cannot be reduced, redirected, or mitigated in any way.
 
lostsole31
That done .... now what?
DrK
Helena thanks Grum as she feels the strange energy settle around her. SIghing she lowly raises to her feet.   "Well shall we investigate this Queen in the gate house?"   she asks carefully as she looks about. Taking a deep breath she summons forth a glowing cap of semi-translucent coat of scales and draws her sword looking somewhat forlornly at the nearly empty quiver at her hip.   "I hope we find some arrows somewhere"  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Casts mage armour
 


Grums nods,  "Ye ready GWen?"  he says before leading them downstairs heading towards the gate house that had the barred gate. There he'll kick at the door until he can shatter the lwood on the door.

 
 Spoiler: Essence 


0 Minor: Gauntlets Lashing Energy
0 Minor: Bangles of Roving Light

1 Veil: Hard light axe
1 Veil: Mountain Plate
1 Veil: Stone Giant Girdle
0 Veil: Lions Heart

1 Non Veil: Chakra Power
1 Non Veil: Helena Essence bound Duty
 
lostsole31
Grum gives only one powerful kick against the door before the other tooth fairy guards at the gatehouse - who steered clear of you this time - then begin screeching.  They don't seem hostile, and it takes Gwennid to tell you that they want to warn the PCs that Prince Uspid's mother tried to assassinate him by sending a "bony snake" and they trapped it in there by locking the door (Prince Uspid has the key). They are fine with you breaking down the door, as they can just fly as they please and the door means little to them, but they want to warn you now that you are working for their Prince.

What do you do?
DrK
Helen turns to them as Gwen translates and offers a sincere bow.   ”Please tell them our thanks Gwen.”   she says politely watching the little fluttering monsters carefully.

Grum merely grunts   ”Keep an eye on ‘em”   before turning back to the door and starting to hack at the door lock with great swings of the Hardlight axes
lostsole31
It doesn't take terribly long before Grum hews open the door. There, the  soft scrape of bone reveals the long, sinuous skeleton of a large  snake, its head a humanoid skull with a snake’s jaws.

 Begin Round One ...

R1T21:   Helena , what do you do?
DrK
Helena stares at in shock,   ”wish they’d been more specific”   with a glance at the tooth fairies before dancing forward to stand beside Grum and lash out at the creature with her sword as she wonders what it is!

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Swift: Silver crane waltz stance
Move: to square beside Grum (to the east)
Standard: Silver strike [risky attack]  (1d20+5)[ 24 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 19 ]  dam  (1d8+3)[ 6 ] 

Current miss chance 30%
 
lostsole31
 R1T21:  Helena stares at the thing in shock.   ”Wish they’d been more specific,”    she mutters with a glance at the tooth fairies before dancing forward to stand  beside Grum and lash out at the creature with her sword as she wonders  what it is! Her sword strikes very accurately, but only a tiny bone splinter falls away ( 1 mod ).

 R1T13:   Though it reacts as a skeleton might - resisting a hacking weapon like  Helena's longsword - given its ridiculous and obviously man-made human  skull-on-snake body form, she recognizes it as a "necrophidius," a type  of construct. Though little more than that (beyond typical construct  immunities and shared abilities) she does not know. The necrophidius  begins to sway back and forth in an entrancing manner.

 Helena  and  Grum , roll will saves!
DrK
 
 Spoiler: Will Saves 


Grum  (1d20+9)[ 26 ] 
+2 vs Mind affecting, +4 vs spells, Warder aegis +1

Helen  (1d20+6)[ 8 ] 
Spell miss chance 30% if a spell effect
 
lostsole31
 R1T12:  Grum sees that both Gwennid and Helena seem to be completely taken in by the strange dance of this bone-snake. What does he do?
DrK
Grum grumbles,   ”i dinnae dance ye beast”   as he swings a glowing Hardlight axe with devastating force

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Swift: regal blade boost
Standard: crippling strike [risky attack]
  (1d20+10)[ 17 ]  dam  (2d8+9)[ 25 ]  +  (2d6)[ 5 ]  (there is 1d3 bleed but may be irrelevant)

New manoeuvre  (1d2)[ 2 ]  1= crushing blow, 2= scything strike
 
lostsole31
 R1T12:    ”I dinnae dance, ye beast,”   Grum grumbles as he swings a glowing hardlight axe with devastating force that lands for  25 mod .

Gwennid and Helena are dazed.

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T13:  The bony snake attacks him but he blocks it quickly enough.

 R2T12:   Grum , what do you do?
DrK
Blocking and spinning with the axes he clutches a single Akashic axe in both hands and chops again at the beast.   ”Gwen, Helena, snap out o’it.”  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Swift: enter Valiant keeper stance
Standard: switch to a 2 handed grip [risky attack]
 (1d20+8)[ 17 ]  dam  (1d8+13)[ 20 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R2T12:  Blocking and spinning with the axes he clutches a  single Akashic axe in both hands and chops again at the beast, striking  true for  25 mod , destroying it!   ”Gwen, Helena, snap out o’ it.”  
 Initiative Ends! 

It takes Gwennid 3 more rounds and Helena four more rounds, but they finally regain their senses. All stances end.

The tooth fairies all clap gleefully and (in Sylvan) praise the dwarf's mighty axe and skill.
DrK
Grum eyes the little flying critters with some hostility before nodding happily when Gwen and Helena seem to snap out of the fugue state they were in. A nod and a   Welcome back lassies, glad ye be back with me. It be dead, I dinnae dance."   He adds. Then he steps into the room carefully looking for anymore creatures.

Helena pats Gwen on the shoulder,   "It was a strange sensation. Shall we follow in Master Grum"  
lostsole31
It only takes a little over a minute for a quick search in here. As you do so, Gwennid asks,   "Grum, what is a 'lassie?'"  
DrK
Grum grins,   "A girl, a lady eh."   he adds with a smile.   "Nae offence meant"  . He gestures upstairs,   "Aye, I be happy heading up eh..."   He lets the axes dissipate temporarily before starting to climb up, read to re-mainfest an axe if anything bad should happen.

Helena at the base of the stairs calls up after him   "Be careful Grum"  
lostsole31
Before he goes up, Gwennid asks,   "What makes you think that I am a girl ... a lady?"  
DrK
Grum pauses, looks at Gwen, and then shrugs.   "Well, sorry laddie. Ye just be small."   Even as Helena giggles slightly the dwarf starts scaling the ladder to seewhat lies above
lostsole31
Before Grum scales more than a rung, Gwennid comments.   "Oh, okay. What is a 'laddie,' then?"  
DrK
As Helena smiles turning her head slightly so the others can't see her laugh the dwarf pauses then shakes his head.   "I dinnae have time tae be explaining moths and moles eh   (the dwarven equivalent of birds and bees)   "Helena, you can dae it fer her."  .

With an irritated grunt he starts scaling the ladder, shaking his head in confusion at Gwen's questions.
lostsole31
Gwennid looks to Helena.   "Why does he keep referring to me as 'her'? I am not a 'her.' And what is a 'laddie?'"  
DrK
Helena pauses, then smiles down at Gwen.   "Grum is a simple man. He assumed from your name that you were a female creature, a lassie, if not female then he would assume you were a male, a laddie. He means no harm, its just a term of endearment."  .

With her blade in hand she'll gaze up at the ladder,   "Lets hope for no more nasty suprises."  
lostsole31
  "Oh, well, I'm not a laddie-male, either,"   says Gwennid.

Meanwhile, Grum gets to the next level. Except for a long weapon rack against the south wall, this room is bare.
DrK
Pausing to look about he will approach the weapons rack,   ”aye, let’s see if there be any dwarf craft here.”   he murmurs to himself looking about carefully for more tooth fairies or bone snakes
lostsole31
All of the weapons, but only at first glance, seem like garbage. It would take a closer look to see if any are worth anything.

What do you do?
DrK
Grum looks back,   "Weapons... they be decent looking maybe."   he offers to the others.   "I be looking fer some arrows fer you"   he suggests. As he starts searching through mass of weapons for anything of value or some arrows for Helena

Helena pauses to use her magical senses to look for anything magical before joining Grum to search the weapons rack for anything that may be useful and especially some more arrows.
lostsole31
As He is methodically checking the replica/ showpiece/ practice garbage, his eye catches a glint of something down to the far east on the rack .... it is an extremely well-made-looking warhammer of a strange metal. What does he do?
DrK
With his dwarf senses tingling Grum spies the hammer and reaches out towards it. A grin and a   ”ye be pretty.”  
lostsole31
As he walks down the landing to the opposite end where he sees the sparkly banger, he trips several hair-thin wires that launch the weapons racks and their contents at Grum, who takes  7  from the hammering.

It is very likely he doesn't even notice as he picks up the hammer in the now littered hallway and notes that the warhammer was more than worth the trouble ... it is adamantine!
DrK
Grum grunts a curse as the clatter of weapons lands upon him, but the askashic girdle flares into life absorbing (most of) the damage. He looks at the hammer as he hefts it,   "This be a thing o'beauty"  . Holding it out he shows it to Helena and Gwen,   "It be adamantine, nothing harder be known. I ken dwarves who would give up their hold fer this much of it."  . As the girdle slowly regenerates the damage he motion at the next ladder,   "Best be about it aye..."  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Is that 7 damage after the Stone Giant Girdle 10 THP or does the belt abosrb it all. Just for whether I use a fervour or not
 
lostsole31
  "Should we continue searching in here?"   asks Gwennid.
DrK
Helena nods her head,   "If you don't mind Gwen, if you could see if you can find any arrows that would be ideal? I'm down to a mere handful and I'm better with a bow than I am with my sword."   She shrugs and taps one of her arms,   "The Master of Arms at the War College was never complimentary on my arm strength"  
lostsole31
Gwennid goes rooting around .... the racks that are still fine in center and west ... and the mess to the east that Grum created.

  "There is no ammunition of any kind, and I wouldn't trust my life with any one of these practice and replica weapons."  
DrK
Helena sighs sadly, looking wistfully at her nearly empty quiver before nodding to the others. Grum pas her on the shoulder,   "Cheer up lass, we found a class door smasher here"   he says waving the adamantine hammer happily before strapping it to his belt securely. With that done he looks up at the next ladder and begins to climb upwards.
lostsole31
 Surprise Round ... 
 S20:  Grum is  just getting above and sees something, but not in time to act before it  does, because it is already charging! Its long, bony crocodilian snout  latches onto Grum's left arm for  8 . Despite the charge, it still continues attacking as its jaw closes on his arm to hold him fast ( grappled ); a claw slashes his left shoulder for  6 ; though a second claw doesn't make it past his armor! And then the creature firms its hold on him.

 S19:   Grum ,  you are currently being grappled, half-pulled off the top of the ladder  by some monstrous dog/boar/crocodile that has parts both living/  unliving! This is a surprise round (and all that entails). What do you  do?
DrK
Grum grunts as the beast latches onto him. A grunted,   "Ger' off ye bear dog thing."   as he lashes out with a powerful metallic fist from the mountain plate seeking to cripple it

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Crippling strike  (1d20+8)[ 11 ]  dam  (1d3+4)[ 5 ]  +  (2d6)[ 9 ]  +  (1d3)[ 3 ]  bleed
(not included the grapple penalties here)

Grant move  (1d2)[ 1 ]  1 = crushing blow, 2= scything strike
 
lostsole31
 S19:  Grum grunts as the beast latches onto him,   "Ger' off, ye bear dog thing."    He lashes out with a powerful metallic fist from the mountain plate  seeking to cripple it, but is poorly positioned and misses wildly.

 End Surprise Round, Begin Round One ...

R1T23:  Gwennid delays ...

 R1T20:   The monster recovers from the charge. It uses Grum's now off-ladder  action to suspend the dwarf above the whole, while trying to do ...  something.

 Grum , roll a Will save.
DrK
Grum will save
 
 Spoiler: Will save 

 (1d20+9)[ 12 ] 
Possible mods:
+4 vs spells/SLA
+2 vs mind affecting
Possible Aegis form Helena
 
lostsole31
 R1T20 (Cont'd):  The monster wrenches Grum's spirit out  of his body. Grum's consciousness is now a point directly above his  body, but his body is paralyzed. It worries a little bit, peeling Grum  the rest of the way off the ladder so that he is dangling - paralyzed -  above and blocking the hole.

 R1T19:  As quickly as it did that, Grum's spirit attempts to rally.  Grum ,  roll a Will save. Assuming you make it, what do you do? You are  grappled in this thing's jaws AND no longer climbing but dangling in the  ladder hole and blocking access for your fellows.
DrK
Grum shakes his head, or at least tries to.   "Nae ye beastie. I need that back"   he screams mentally trying to force his sol back into his body

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Will save  (1d20+9)[ 26 ] 
Possible mods:
+4 vs spells/SLA
+2 vs mind affecting
Possible Aegis form Helena
 
DrK
(Hopefully) with his soul back in his body he'll lash out again with his fist seeking to dislodge the beast.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Standard Crushing blow  (1d20+8)[ 15 ]  dam  (1d3+4)[ 5 ]  +  (1d6)[ 5 ]  and DC 15 Fort or flatfooted
 
lostsole31
 R1T19:  Grum shakes his astral head, his real one not moving.    "Nae ye beastie. I need that back!"     he screams mentally, successfully reinstalling his spirit back in his  body. He lashes out with his fist, hitting against the hardened skull of  the beast for no effect. 
 Spoiler: Inspiration 
 Scything strike 
 

 R1T4:   Helena , Grum blocks the way up. What do you do?

Bogey on deck, Grum in the hole ...
DrK
Helena looks up at the hole, seeing mainly Grum's armoured posterior and legs.   "Grum, get out of the way, come down here or push on up, either way you need to make some space."   She'll sheathe the longsword and start climbing up the ladder ready for when he moves.
lostsole31
 R1T4:   Helena looks up at the hole, seeing mainly Grum's armored posterior and legs.   "Grum, get out of the way, come down here or push on up, either way you need to make some space."   She'll sheathe the longsword and start climbing up the ladder ready for when he moves.

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T20:  The wrenching spirit bit not working well, the monster maintains its hold as it bites down for  7 .

 R2T19:   Grum , what do you do?

Helena on deck, bogey in the hole ...
DrK
Grum still trapped in its maws just lashes out again with a savage uppercut to the beast's throat

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


attack  (1d20+8)[ 16 ]  dam  (1d3+4)[ 6 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R2T19:  Still trapped in its maw, Grum just lashes out  again with a savage uppercut to the beast's throat, but his fist can't  power past a very thick ruff of black fur around its neck.

 R2T4:   Helena , what do you do?

Bogey on deck, Grum in the hole ...
DrK
Helena continues to climb the ladder and seeks to bodily push Grimgor up the hole and out of the way...

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Mechnically she'll try and bullrush him up and out the way
 (1d20+5)[ 15 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R2T4:  Helena continues to climb the ladder and seeks to  bodily push Grum up the hole and out of the way, but he is too heavy,  and none of his weight is supported by the ladder anymore as he is  freely suspended by whatever is holding him, but his bulk is still  enough to keep Helena from moving past the space.

 End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T20:  It continues to bite into Grum for  3 .

 R3T19:   Grum , what do you do?
DrK
Grum feels Helena below and looks up at the dog like beast.   "I'll be chewy as owt, ye winnae like me..."   bellows the dwarf as he tries clamber up out of the hole using his bulk and the lip of the trapdoor to gain some purchase.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


CMB  (1d20+8)[ 10 ] 
 - Not sure if its a grapple to move or a bull rush

 
lostsole31
 R3T19:  Grum feels Helena below and looks up at the dog like beast.   "I'll be chewy as owt, ye winnae like me..."    bellows the dwarf as he tries clamber up out of the hole using his bulk  and the lip of the trapdoor to gain some purchase. He has none, and his  entire body dangles, behind held in a bitten grapple aloft by the  monster while that hanging bulk blocks the chute from anyone else coming  up.

 R3T4:   Helena , what do you do? You pretty much have Grum's ample-armored rump on your head.
DrK
Helena pushes at Grum, a grumbled   ”Get out of the way.”   As she she tries to lever him out of the way

 
 Spoiler: Assist another 


Aid Grum in his next check  (1d20+4)[ 21 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R3T4:  Helena pushes at Grum, a grumbled,   ”Get out of the way,”    as she she tries to lever him out of the way. Unfortunately, while she  can get to Grum, she can't quite get to the monster, so she is unable to  aid Grum.

 End Round 3, Begin Round 4 ...

R4T20:   Even though Helena can't get to Grum's adversary, perhaps the pushing  on Grum was all that was needed as the monster looses its grip on Grum.

Unfortunately,  Grum was clear off the ladder and suspended by this thing, and Helena  had both hands on Grum trying to balance on the ladder when he is  released.  They both tumble down to the ground below, with Grum landing  on Helena and spilling to the side.. Grum takes  10 , and Helena takes  9 .

 R4T19.5:   Gwennid immediately swoops past her two fallen friends and up the  ladderway. You hear her light spear parry a snarling bite above. She  gets to a point where she is hovering right at the opening to the upper  level - meaning someone on the ladder can't take that space or get past  her.

 R4T19:  In the meantime, Grum, you are prone. What do you do?

Helena on deck, monster in the hole ...
DrK
Grum struggles to his feet looking up at the hole,   "Scum... just gie' us the space to get up there."   he snarls as he reaches out to touch Helena to cure some of the damage

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Move: Stand up
Standard: fervour  (1d6)[ 6 ]  on Helena
 
lostsole31
 R4T19:  Grum struggles to his feet looking up at the hole.   "Scum... just gie' us the space to get up there,"   he snarls as he reaches out to touch Helena to cure some of the damage (  6  ). He breathes, and calms just a little while at the same time being energized (maneuvers refresh).

 R4T4:   Helena ,  also prone, what do you do? You are at the base of the ladder and see  Gwennid flying right at the opening above in a very defensive posture.

Bogey on deck, Gwennid in the hole ...
DrK
Helena nods her thanks to Grum as the healing washes over her like being doused in a bucket of cold water. Rising to her feet she desperately looks for sight of the beast,   "Gwen, draw it away from the passageway"   she calls up to the small fey creature.
lostsole31
 R4T4:  Helena nods her thanks to Grum as the healing washes over her like being  doused in a bucket of cold water. Rising to her feet she desperately  looks for sight of the beast,   "Gwen, draw it away from the passageway"   she calls up to the small fey creature.

 End Round 4, Begin Round 5 ...

R5T20:  The monster wildly attacks the fey, but Gwennid was focused on defense and their spear brilliant parries all attacks.

 R5T19.5:   Gwennid maintains her focus on total defense, but then flies up and to  the west out of view, the monster snapping wildly as they go. As they  do, they say,   "Grum, I know you  want blood, but give me several seconds to lead it, or it will just  attack you on the ladder instead of going after me."  
 R5T19:   Grum , what do you do? You hear the monster panting and huffing at the ladder hole (though you can't see it from here).

 Helena , same thing. You can't see the thing, but you know it is right by the ladder hole.
DrK
Grum, grumbling under his breath nods.   "Aye wee one."   he'll shout up to Gwen before summoning a magical shield of glowing force around himself. Eyeing the ladder he climbs halfway up carefully waiting for Gwen to holler before getting the rest of the way up.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Cast shield of faith
Climb halfway up the ladder
 
DrK
Helena looks up at the chaos above,   "Take care Gwen"   she calls forth before waving a hand around her as a spawn of multiple images of herself spin out. and she looks up at Grum,   "I'll follow you up"  
 
 Spoiler: Helena 

Cast mirror image  (1d4+1)[ 2 ]  images
wait at bottom of ladder
Enter silver crane waltz stance
 
lostsole31
 R5T19:  Grum, grumbling under his breath nods.    "Aye wee one!"     he shouts up to Gwen before summoning a magical shield of glowing  force around himself. Eyeing the ladder he climbs 5' up, carefully  waiting for Gwen to holler before getting the rest of the way up.  
 Spoiler: Inspiration 
 Scything strike .
 

 R5T4:  Helena looks up at the chaos above,    "Take care Gwen!"    she calls forth before waving a hand around her as a spawn of multiple images (2) of herself spin out. She looks up at Grum,   "I'll follow you up."  
 End Round 5, Begin Round 6 ...

R6T20:  The monster turns around and attacks the low flier, biting her in the left shoulder with a light crit for  7 mod , but failing to find purchase. She deflects its claws.

 R6T19.5:   Giving up her complete defense she moves away open datum, its skull jaw  snapping hungrily after her. Once away, she shift her life force  energies around and then builds to a big release to do as much damage as  she can. It pays off as the stupid beast gets struck in the rear flank  with pure energy straight from the Boneyard, setting up a piercing  feedback on the monster for a light crit of  28 ! The monster gives a baleful, grunting squeal.

 R6T19:   Grum , what do you do?

Helena on deck, bogey in the hole ...
DrK
Hearing the commotion the dwarf scrambles up the ladder as fast he can to roll up ono the floor above, as his head gets levels he'll rolls to whichever side of the trapdoor allows him to fully reach the floor above taking any attacks that lash out at him....

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Full round action to climb at nromal (i.e. 1/4 speed) for a full round action and climb out away from the beast if its not blocking the exit
 
lostsole31
 R6T19:  Hearing the commotion the dwarf scrambles up the  ladder and gets to the top - still on the ladder - and then steps off the ladder to the limited space available, right next to the monster.

 R6T4:   Helena , Grum moved up to the top, and you can see part of his bulk practically balancing on limited space on the floor above - but at least the ladder is clear. What do you do?

Bogey on deck, Gwennid in the hole ...
DrK
Helena breathes a sigh of relief as Grum gets up and off the ladder and then follows him up climbing carefully to see what lies up top.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Normal climb to the top of the ladder
 
lostsole31
 R6T4:  Helena breathes a sigh of relief as Grum gets up and off the ladder and  then follows him up climbing carefully to see what lies up top.

 End Round 6, Begin Round 7 ...

R7T20:    The monster turns around and attacks Grum, but now that he is firmly  standing he can move enough that he isn't just a tin can waiting to be  whalloped as its teeth and claws can't penetrate his armor now.

 R7T19.5:  Gwennid casts a spell and disappears from view.

 R7T19:   Grum , your inspiration has given you  crushing blow . What do you do?

Helena on deck, Bogey on deck ...
DrK
Grum now with feet on solid ground wards off the beast with an armoured gauntlet.   "Nae more nice dwarf now..."   he grumbles as he reaches out his right hand, a shimmering hardlight axe appearing in it. With a great wrench he swings down hard trying to hit the beast in the toothy snout

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Swift: Enter Valiant keeper stance
Move: Draw a hardlight axe
Standard: Crippling Strike [risky attack] holding it two-handed  (1d20+8)[ 23 ]  dam  (1d8+13)[ 16 ]  +  (2d6)[ 4 ]  dam +  (1d3)[ 2 ]  bleed
 
DrK
Helena, trapped at the top of the ladder, looks up at Grum, an encouraging   "Go now... get him drive him back Grum"   as she waits for space to clamber up

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Do nothing this turn
 
lostsole31
 R7T19:  Now with feet on solid ground, Grum wards off the beast with an armored gauntlet.   "Nae more nice dwarf now..."     he grumbles as he reaches out his right hand, a shimmering hardlight   axe appearing in it. With a great wrench he swings down hard trying to   hit the beast in the toothy snout but catching it in the forward flank  instead for  20 (+  1d3 bleed )   + disabled .

 R7T4:  Helena, trapped at the top of the ladder, looks up at Grum, an encouraging   "Go now... get him drive him back Grum"   as she waits for space to clamber up.

 End Round 7, Begin Round 8 ...

R8T20:  The monster suffers 2 bleed, which is more than it can handle as it falls over.

Gwennid performs a CDG on the monster.

 Combat Ends! 

Grum gets to more stable ground as Helena likewise gets up to this level.
DrK
Grum nods at Gwen they finish the beast off and stomps  away from the trapdoor about halfway down the corridor looking around curiously.   "My thank Gwen. Ye was handy tae distract the beastie."   He glances back to see what Helena was doing as she kneels down beside the creature, a sword in hand in case it was playing dead.

  "I wonder wat manner of beast this is?"   she murmurs rolling it over to examine it.
lostsole31
Gwennid recognizes that it was a psychopomp more by feel, and this guides Helena's determination, for while she only ever saw artistic renderings and not the real creature in-the-flesh, she is sure that this is an "esobok," a type of lesser psychopomp, which in turn is a type of outsider.
 
 Spoiler: Psychopomps 
 Outsider : All normal outsider traits.
 Psychopomp Subtype 
 Psychopomps  are a race of neutral  outsiders   who serve Pharasma and oversee mortal souls. Psychopomps  have a particular suite of traits (unless otherwise noted in a  creature’s entry).

 A psychopomp possesses the following traits.


 
  Darkvision  60 feet and  low-light vision . 
  Immunity  to death effects,  disease , and  poison . 
  Resistance  to cold 10 and electricity 10. 
 Except where otherwise noted, psychopomps speak Abyssal, Celestial, and Infernal. 
  Spirit Touch (Su)  A psychopomp’s  natural weapons , as well as any weapon it wields, are treated as though they had the  ghost touch  weapon special ability. 
  Spiritsense (Su)  A psychopomp notices, locates, and can distinguish between living and  undead  creatures within 60 feet, just as if it possessed the  blindsight  ability. 
 
 

Studying the esobok's hide, it seems that it has a faint resistance to weapons that likely only a weapon as hard as adamantine could easily penetrate. Though in some ways both like a boar or a canine, its build is such that Helena feels that such a creature can charge and pounce on prey with skull-teeth and bony claws like some hunting cats.  She remembers lore that esoboks can wrench the spirit of those held in its grasp, causing damage directly to the spirit with pure force; this ability can destroy some undead while paralyzing living targets.

The group looks around to see the most basic aspect of their surroundings. This long room atop the gatehouse has several narrow arrow slits to the north and south. Each is 2 feet high and only a few inches wide. The room is bare except for a ladder descending from an alcove at the room’s eastern end. A low door stands in the center of the north wall, with a small, square window at the typical eye level for a human. The window is inset with a small metal grill, which has been stuffed with humanoid teeth.

Do you search this upper guard area? If so, quick or deep search?
DrK
Helena looks at the beast and then nods to Grum,   "You are impressive Grum, such creatures are normally hardy and with flesh that can often turn a blow."   Grum for his part merely shrugs,   "Aye well, it did annoy me so it had tae be showed who was boss eh... Now lass, lets have a wee look about before we start bursting through doors and the like.""  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Quick search please
 
lostsole31
It only takes 2-1/2 minutes to determine that there is nothing of worth in this corridor.
DrK
With nothing of value in the corridor and nowhere else but down to go Grum looks at others and heads to the door in the centre of the Northern wall and cautiously pushes open the door to peer out at what lies beyond. Helena trots down the corridor following him,   Strange don't you think Grum that such a beast would be isolated here?"  
lostsole31
Peering out, the answer is plain. It seems that this is obvious an upper guard post for the curtain wall that precedes and overlooks both the outer part of the castle and the courtyard on the inside.
DrK
Grum looks at the narrow walkway and curses inwardly. As a dwarf he preferred caves and tunnels to heights. Then he glances back at Gwen and Helena   "Best head across aye? ut be slow about it. It don't look too safe"   he adds as he slowly starts to inch his way across the gap.

Behind him Helena peers through the door,   "Take care Grum, I'll be here."   she adds swapping her sword for her trusty bow and glancing with some sadness at the nearly empty quiver at her waist.
lostsole31
A long bridge stretches from the door at the top of the guardhouse to a door at the top of the palace. The southern half of the bridge arches above the courtyard 30 feet below. The northern half of the bridge has a drop of only 10 feet to the roof of the castle below. The bridge is only a few feet wide and has no handholds or railings. The door at the north end of the bridge is flanked by several narrow windows, each 2 feet tall and only a few inches wide.

What is the recommended marching order?
DrK
Grum looks down and over the edge and shakes his head,   "I dinnae like heights eh.."   the looking at the others he nods to Gwen,   "Ca ye' follow me? Helena, ye wait till I make it across, I dinnae like it so keep yer bow handy aye?"  

Helena looks at the thin bridge and nods hefting her bow and her few precious arrows.   "As you say. But be careful."   she'll suggest as she keeps watching carefully.

Grum nods before shuffling, very, very slowly out across the bridge very carefullly.
lostsole31
Grum and the party cross the 35' span to a door. What now?
DrK
Grum had not looked down, creeping across the bridge slowly and carefully eyes fixed on the door as he reaches the far side he waits for the others to join him. Ignoring the wide grin on Helena's face he shakes his head,   "Idiotic structure, who be putting a bridge like that in"   before he pushes opne the door to re-enter the uppper floor of the keep
lostsole31
Oh, because I forgot to really mention how terrifying the bridge is ...

A long bridge stretches from the door at the top of the guardhouse to a door at the top of the palace. The southern half of the bridge arches above the courtyard 30 feet below. The northern half of the bridge has a drop of only 10 feet to the roof of the castle below. The bridge is only a few feet wide and has no handholds or railings. The door at the north end of the bridge is flanked by several narrow windows, each 2 feet tall and only a few inches wide.

Grum and Helena ... roll Will saves!
DrK
 
 Spoiler: Will Saves 


Grum:  (1d20+9)[ 17 ] 
+4 vs. spells/ SLAs (+6 vs. undead). +2 vs. fear, poison, +2 vs Mind affecting

Helena:  (1d20+6)[ 12 ] 
 
lostsole31
Grum is fine, but Helena falls asleep, as does Gwennid. The bridge is treacherous and exposed.

 Helena , roll a Ref save so as not to fall off the bridge.
DrK
 
 Spoiler: Helena Ref save 


Reflex for Helena  (1d20+7)[ 26 ] 
 
lostsole31
 Surprise Round ... 

A wave of lethargy instantly  drops Gwennid and Helena. Luckily, since they fall asleep instead of  dead drop, they calmly get on their knees and lay down ... saving them  from a horrible fall to the courtyard below.

Grum grits his  gums and gainsays the gutless pugnaciousness, hearing high-pitched,  chittering laughs from the windows overlooking the bridge.

  "Come at us!"   taunts one to Grum.

 Begin Round One ... 
 R1T19-14:  The various little fey - of which there seem to be three tooth fairies - all disappear in the blink of an eye.

 R1T2:   Grum , what do you do?
DrK
Grum looks up as the little beasts flap into view, the flickering hardlight axes yearning to be thrown at them. He snarls a curse as they vanish from view and instead leans down and gives Helena  solid shake to try and rouse her

 OOC
Standard action to wake Helena,
If its a move action then also wake Gwen


 
lostsole31
 R1T2:  Grum looks up as the little beasts flap out of view, the flickering  hardlight axes yearning to be thrown at them. He snarls a curse as they  vanish from view and instead leans down and gives Helena  solid shake to  try and rouse her.

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T19-14:  Gwennid's throat rips open in a spray of blood, and a tooth fairy is standing over her body. Helena takes  1   from pliers that wrenched at her throat when another one appears in her  own square. A third also appears in the square with her as well, but  seems to have pulled at its own nose while invisible.

 R2T9:   Gwennid ,  you are prone, and two buffer-than-usual tooth fairies are in the  square with you, while a third stands over Gwennid.  Roll a Fort save.  What do you do?

Grum on deck, enemies in the hole ...
DrK
Helena snaps awake, clutching at her throat as the pliers pull at her skin. Shaking her head she stumbles to her feet, heedless of the danger and lashes out with the edge of the buckler at the nearest tooth fairy, a worried,    "Check Gwen"    shouted to Grum


 
 Spoiler: Helena Fort save 


Fort save  (1d20+8)[ 13 ] 

Swift: Enter Silver crane waltz stance
Move action: Stand up
Standard: Silver strike a tooth fairy in her square [tactical strike]  (1d20+5)[ 7 ]  Or  (1d20+5)[ 10 ]  dam  (1d3+4)[ 5 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R2T9:  Helena snaps awake, clutching at her throat as the pliers pull at her  skin. Shaking her head she stumbles to her feet, heedless of the danger  and lashes out with the edge of the buckler at the nearest tooth fairy, a  worried,    "Check Gwen!"    shouted to Grum.

 R2T2:   Grum , what do you do?
DrK
Grum looks at Gwen’s dead body and mutters an oath hurling his axe at the nearest fairy

 
 Spoiler: Ooc 


Standard: axe tactical strike  (1d20+6)[ 23 ]  dam  (1d8+9)[ 14 ] 

I
 
DrK
Helena looks sad as she looks at Gwen before looking at the fey angrily. Ducking and weaving as best she can she punches out with the buckler seeking to strike one of the malevolent beasts

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Enduring crane strike [risky]  (1d20+5)[ 17 ]  vs Red dam  (1d3+4)[ 7 ]  and try and heal Gwen (she doesn't know she is def dead)  (1d6+3)[ 5 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R2T2:  Grum looks at Gwen’s dead body and mutters an oath hurling his axe at the nearest fairy, it strikes Blue for  12 mod .  That might have dropped other tooth fairies, but these seem to be a bit  tougher than the ones you've seen before as it does not go down.

 End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T19-14:  Red flies into Helena's square and tries to bite, as does Green. Blue bites and pops an image.

 R3T9:  Helena looks sad as she looks at Gwen before looking at the fey angrily.  Ducking and weaving as best she can she punches out with the buckler  seeking to strike one of the malevolent beasts, but she doesn't know how to use a buckler as a weapon very well, and it misses.

 R3T2:   Grum , what do you do?

Enemies on deck/ in the hole ...
DrK
Grum feels the essence invested in Helena flare as one of the fey (red) attacks her, spinning he feels the essence build up as he marks the fey for destruction before swinging hard, axe crackling with Akashic energy

 
 Spoiler: OOC  

Free: mark red
Attack red  (1d20+8)[ 14 ]  dam  (1d8+4)[ 7 ]  +  (2d6)[ 11 ]  Akashic
Not included the +4 to hit
 
lostsole31
 R3T2:  Grum feels the essence invested in Helena flare as one of the fey (red)  attacks her, spinning he feels the essence build up as he marks the fey  for destruction before swinging hard, axe crackling with Akashic energy, striking for  18 .

 End Round 3, Begin Round 4 ...

R4T19:  Red bites Helena for  1 NL .

 Helena  roll a Fort save!
DrK
 
 Spoiler: Helena Fort save 

 (1d20+8)[ 11 ]  for the Fort save
 
lostsole31
 R4T19:  The bite itself did little injury, but Helena  could feel her muscles seizing up from a paralytic effect that she only  barely manages to fight off.

 R4T15:  Green then bites Helena in the chest for  1 .

 Helena , roll a Fort save!
DrK
 
 Spoiler: Fort save 


Ah, cursed miss chance not helping!
 (1d20+8)[ 14 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R4T14:  Blue attacks, and removes Helena's last image.

 R4T9:  Helena's turn!

Grum on deck, enemies in the hole ...
DrK
Helena squeaks as the last image vanishes and pulls free the longsword from her waist.   "Vile creatures, you'll pay for what you have done!"   she shouts as she chops down at the creatures swinging the blade as hard as she can with both hands.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Helena attacks Blue (two handed) [risky attack]   (1d20+5)[ 17 ]  dam  (1d8+5)[ 13 ] 
 


Grum looks at the fey, stunned that the creature had survived the akashic pulse and swings harder this time.   "Nae chance fer you blight"  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Attack Red again  (1d20+8)[ 22 ]  dam  (1d8+4)[ 9 ]  +  (2d6)[ 6 ]  akashic
Not inluded essence bound duty +4 to hit
 
lostsole31
 R4T9:  Helena squeaks as the last image vanishes and pulls free the longsword from her waist.   "Vile creatures, you'll pay for what you have done!"    she shouts as she chops down at the creatures swinging the blade as  hard as she can with both hands. Her buckler unbalances her, but she  still manages to strike Blue hard enough to drop it. Its body falls and  tumbles off the side to splat in the courtyard below.

 R4T2:   Grum looks at the fey, stunned that the creature had survived the  akashic pulse and swings harder this time, cutting it deeply and sending  its corpse off the causeway.   "Nae chance fer you blight!"  
 End Round 4, Begin Round 5 ...

R5T15:  The last tooth ripper jumps up and bites into Helena's boob for  1 NL .

 R5T9-2:   Helena , roll a Fort save. What do you do?

Grum follows immediately behind her.
DrK
 
 Spoiler: Helena Fort save 


Fort save  (1d20+8)[ 27 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R5T9:   Helena moves to stand protectively over  Gwennid's body and then slashes furiously, completely bifurcating the  little monster as one half each falls off different sides of the  causeway.

 Combat Ends! 

What now?
DrK
Grum and Helena both pause, breathing deeply before she kneels down by Gwen's body searching frantically for a pulse or a sign of life. Grum looks about   "See if there be hope lass, I'll keep an eye fer more of the wee flying scum"  

As Grum keeps an eye out Helen rolls Gwen over and starts to examine their poor wee companion.
lostsole31
They check Gwennid, but she is gone.
DrK
Helena sheathes the sword and scoops up Gwen, tears pooling in her eyes. Grum rests a hand her shoulder,   "Sorry lass. that be sad, They were a strange sort but I were fond of 'em too. Lets get 'em off this bridge."  

Grum will open the door they reached and move cautiously inside, axes high and ready for action.
lostsole31
It takes Grum two tries to open the door, seemingly stuck from disuse. This upper hall has a few crude nests where the tooth fairy rippers slept. There is a door on the north wall to the west.

What now?
DrK
Helena lays Gwen down gently then looks at Grum,   "She will be avenged.   Grum nods,   "Aye lass. These pixies are filthy scum and can all be killed."   Shaking his head and with a momentary prayer as he kneels by Grum he makes sure on the gleaming hardlighgt axes is in hand as he moves to the door followed by Helena who unsheathes her blade. Reaching the door both will pause to listen for danger, and if they don't hear any will pus open the door
lostsole31
The door opened ... strips of loose wallpaper in this once-elegant salon are held into place by teeth jammed into the walls like makeshift staples. A folding dressing screen is patterned with lively scenes of a fat tooth fairy blessing subjects with a wooden scepter. A dressmaker’s dummy leans against it, wrapped in tulle and silk. A door leads south (the door you are at) and another leads east.
DrK
Grum and Helena pause looking about in confusion.   ”Bleedin’ strange place. You check the chest and I’ll keep an eye on the door.”   he suggests,

Helena, sword in hand nods   ”Yes master Grum”   she responds still subdued following Gwens death.   “Have a care, these creatures are vile and deceitful.”  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Grum moves to the door and listens
Helena searches the dresser
 
lostsole31
 Surprise Round ... 

The dressmaker's dummy is  uninteresting, but as soon as Helena comes to the dressing screen ....  it bites at her with a large maw and tongue!

 Begin Round One ... 
 R1T20:  The monster snaps again at Helena, this time biting her in the neck for  9 + grappled , stuck to it with a powerful adhesive.

 R1T17:   Helena , before you knew it, the dressing screen grew a big mouth and bit you and stuck you fast. What do you do?
DrK
Helena squeaks with terror as the dresser comes alive,   "Grum help me!"   she screams loudly before flailing with her blade trying to hack her way free

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Swift: Enter silver crane waltz stance
Standard: risky strike  (1d20+7)[ 22 ]  dam  (1d8+5)[ 11 ] 
* not including the penalty for grappling
 
lostsole31
 R1T17:  Helena squeaks with terror as the dresser comes alive.   "Grum help me!"    she screams loudly before flailing with her blade trying to hack her  way free. She tried to swing with both hands and realizes that doing  that - and trying to get into stance - both flatly fail.

 R1T9:   Grum , what do you do?
DrK
Grum makes the creature that dares to attack his ward advancing to some 15ft from it before he spins the hardlight axe as its flickers across the ensuing distance before appearing back in his hand

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Free: mark the creature
Move: To within 15ft
Standard: Melee attack (from range with hardlight axe)
   --  (1d20+6)[ 15 ]  dam  (1d8+9)[ 17 ]  +  (2d6)[ 8 ]  incarnum
(not including + Wis to attack roll)
 
lostsole31
 R1T9:  Grum makes the creature that dares to attack his ward before he spins the  hardlight axe  as its flickers across  the ensuing distance before appearing back in his hand.

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T20:  The dressing-screen monster continues to crush Helena for  18 .

 R2T17:  Helena, what do you do?

Grum on deck, Monster in the hole ...
DrK
Helena scream as the beast crushes her before she drops a hand from the weapon and slashes one handed at the creature seeking the solace of the silver Crane.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Enduring Crane strike  (1d20+7)[ 27 ]  dam  (1d8-1)[ 4 ]  and Heal self  (1d6+3)[ 4 ] 
- not included the -2 to attacking from a grapple. Attacking one handed.
 
lostsole31
 R2T17:  Helena screams as the beast crushes her before she drops a hand from the  weapon and slashes one handed at the creature seeking the solace of the  silver Crane. Her swordsmanship alone carries through to cut the monster for  4 ,  but not with any support of the Silver Crane since her grappled  position puts her well out of position. Worse, though she still has hold  of her sword, it is stuck fast against the creature.

 R2T9:   Grum , what do you do?

Monster on deck, Helena in the hole ...
DrK
Grum, hefting the hardlight axe in one hand steps in, his essence bond with Helen gleaming as he lunges forwards swinging a crushing blow with regal precision.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Free: mar the mimic
5ft step NE adjacent
Swift: Regal blade (+2 to hit, +1d8 damage)
Standard: Crippling strike [risky attack] + essence bound duty  (1d20+6)[ 22 ]  dam  (1d8+13)[ 15 ]  +  (1d8)[ 6 ]  regal blade +  (2d6)[ 7 ]  essence bound duty +  (2d6)[ 9 ]  crippling strike (+ bleed)
 -- Note: attack roll has not included +2 for Regal blade boost, or +4 for essence bound duty
 
lostsole31
 R2T9:  Grum, hefting the hardlight axe in one hand steps in, his essence bond  with Helen gleaming as he lunges forwards swinging a crushing blow with  regal precision that does  37 . He is inspired with  crushing blow .

 End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T20:  The dressing-screen monster munches on Helena for  25 , and she is now barely conscious.

 R3T17:   Helena , what do you do?

Grum on deck, enemy in the hole ...
DrK
Helena screams as its bites down upon her, barely clinging to conciousness she tries to heal the worst of the damage to stave of the bleeding

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Grappled spellcasting: Spend 1 arcane pool to cast Cure light wounds: Concentration Check (DC11+mimic CMB) =  (1d20+9)[ 28 ]  +4 if combat casting applies
 - if successful  (1d8+4)[ 11 ]  healing
 
DrK
Grum gruffly listens to the screams and shouts a challenge   "Let he be ye beast"   as he swings hard onc with a crushing blow seeking to destroy the beast as fast as possible

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Free: Mark with essence bound duty
Standard: Crushing Blow  [risky attack] + essence bound duty  (1d20+6)[ 11 ]  + 4 WIS from marking the target
               damage  (1d8+13)[ 17 ]  +  (1d6)[ 1 ]  crushing blow +  essence bound duty  (2d6)[ 9 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R3T17:  Helena screams as its bites down upon her,  barely clinging to consciousness she tries to heal the worst of the  damage to stave of the  bleeding, gaining a strong   11 healing  .

 R3T9:  Grum gruffly listens to the screams and shouts a challenge,   "Let her be, ye beast!"    as he swings hard once with a crushing blow seeking to destroy the  beast as fast as possible. He hits really hard against its strangely  pliant body, but it doesn't quite penetrate.

 End Round 3, Begin Round 4 ...

R4T20:  The monster then continues to crush Helena, this time for  24 , and she goes limp in its maw.

 R4T17-9:   Helena , roll a stabilization check (a CON check, not a Fort save!

 Grum , what do you do? You gain  scything strik  e  for inspiration.
DrK
 
 Spoiler: Helena Stabilisation 


Con check  (1d20+1)[ 9 ] 
 


Grum growls more seeing Helena go limp and swings with one last attempt to crush the mimic

 
 Spoiler: Grum 


Risky attack  (1d20+6)[ 20 ]  dam  (1d8+9)[ 10 ]  +  (2d6)[ 9 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R4T17-9:  Grum growls more seeing Helena go limp and  swings with one last attempt to crush the ...thing, whatever it is, that  mimicked a dressing screen ... striking it for  20 ! 
 Spoiler: Inspiration 
Second round fallow. Also, your E invested in Helena becomes E-burn.
 

 End Round 4, Begin Round 5 ...

R5T20:   It chomps and chews and smushes on Helena, her head split in and her  bones ajumble. The creature makes big slurping noises and a massive  tongue licks its lips to further smush in the rest of Helena's body and  gear. It then turns - without a face, mind you - to be in line with  Grum. It gives a wide, lip-smacking smile.

 R5T9:   Grum , your essence-bound duty drops. What do you do?
DrK
Grum bellows in rage as Helena’s mangled body drops to the floor, the essence burning in his bones telling him of her fate! With a great scream and hefting the axe in both hands he chops hard trying to shatter the mimic praying to Gorum to grant him a particularly savage strike

 
 Spoiler: OOC  


Risky attack  (1d20+6)[ 14 ]  dam  (1d8+9)[ 12 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R5T9:  Grum bellows in rage as parts of Helena’s mangled  body drops to the floor, the  essence burning in his bones telling him of her fate! With a great  scream and hefting the axe in both hands he chops hard trying to shatter  the monster, praying to Gorum to grant him a particularly savage  strike. But this is the Boneyard, Pharasma's realm, and Gorum does not  hear his servant's plea, or doesn't answer, as the axe bounces off of  the hide of the strange monster. But, soft, maybe Gorum has heard for  the battle, if not the strike, for Grum finds his mind completely  refreshed, ready to invoke his most powerful  attacks. 
 Spoiler: Inspiration 
Maneuvers reset.
 

 End Round 5, Begin Round 6 ...

R6T20:  The monster opens its maw wide to attack Grum, catching the dwarf for  10  and stuck fast with an adhesive, even as the jaws continue to crush him for another  7 .

 R6T9:   Grum , what do you do?
lostsole31
 R6T9:  Knowing he can't bring both hands to bear, Grum grits his gums in fervor for Gorum, and is granted   7 healing  . He then drops his axe right into the face of the monster biting him for 12. It releases Grum.

Grum  rolls out of its mouth, and then proceeds to wildly and emotionally  hack the thing to pieces, making sure it isn't mimicking death as well.

 Combat Ends! 

Once he is spent from completely ruining the monster, he drops to his knees over the pieces of Helena that were not inside its body. Realizing he is all alone, he weeps deeply and openly.
DrK
Grum sings a low song of lament as he assembles the mangled remains of Helena then almost reverentially wraps her in the tattered remains of her own cloak. Bundling her carefully up he moves her to corner furthest from the mimic pausing only to stamp a few times on the mimic's curse. Looking about he signs deeply,   "This place do be cursed... Gwen, Helena ad the strange lad from the far planes..."   With a prayer uttered to Gorum he checks himself for injuries releasing some of his inner power to heal some wounds.

 
 Spoiler: Fervour 


Heal  (1d6)[ 2 ] 
 


Before he advances towards the door that had been on the east side of the room, an axe clutched in hand warily.
lostsole31
This takes him five minutes .... which is five THP recovered on Grum's  Stone Giant's Girdle . Does he want to wait another five minutes for it to fill to maximum?
DrK
Still feeling the battered bruises Grum will wait another 5 minutes allowing the stone girdle to recuperate further before he opens the door.
lostsole31
Grum opens the door. This lofty hall has two alcoves to the east, each bearing a standing suit of spiky armor. Several teeth are affixed to the armors’ visors, forming a grin on one armor and a scowl on the other. A large throne stands between them, with mounds of tattered pillows heaped upon its seat. A door leads out to the west (where you are).

There are three figures in this room .... a female tooth fairy, larger than the others with a crown; an esobok at her side and feet, lounging like a pet bet getting up once you open the door; and a strange, beige-scaled, dragon-snake whatsit in the southeastern corner.

  "I take it you are here to murder me on my son's command? You will find it a harder task than you reckoned."  
DrK
Grum pauses looking at the cloak wrapped body behind him before responding wearily.   ”Ye and yer children be killing my comrades and friends. I only need a stamp o’some kind to be on me way.”  

He drops his axe to his side looking at them all.   “I dinnae want tae fight but I need a stamp to leave this ghastly place that has killed everyone else.”   He will then ask carefully,   “Do ye have a better offer than blood?”  
lostsole31
  "I alone have the authority to provide you with a stamp. If you instead kill my usurping son, Prince Uspid, as well as the tooth fairies loyal to him, I will stamp you. What say you?"  
DrK
Grum pauses at the statement eying the creature, the "queen" carefully. Then he sighs,   "I hate this bleedin' place. I want tae be gone. Gwen be gone, the brother be gone and Helena be eaten by the bloody box."   He nods an affirmative,   "Aye fine. I do kill the Prince. Or at least I try, if I fall then gods be damned but I want my stamp!"  . That said he offers her a curt nod before stamping around and beginning to make his way back to the main keep...

He'll walk over the bridge, heading to the grand hall where they danced up the stairs and pause for thought
lostsole31
Grum, you make it through the next two rooms, across the bridge, down hall, climb down the ladder, and nearly halfway across the second story landing when you hear something behind you climb down the ladder. When you turn to look, you see that the winged snake whatsit is there, following you. You also notice that it is equipped with Helena's buckler and weapons.

  "Wait, grumpy-stumpy,"   says a harsh vaguely feminine voice.   "You bad woundy. Drink dead friendses healy-slurps."  

She takes out two vials. Grum sees that he truly does have stumpy legs for she had the time to loot Helena and even the one vial of healing potion off of Gwennid as well.

  "You takes .... or even with Jalalongis help, you like go dead. Healy-slurps make strong."  
DrK
Grum pauses, a hand reaching to his where the wound are still raw. A grunted   "Aye well ye be right I guess. Why did you be taking her gear eh? Ye have nae right to it"  . He pauses, swigging down both potions of (I hope cure light) as he waits for an answer. THen, assuming they were cure and not a trick, he'll ask   "So. will yer Queen let ye help me with her regcide?"  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 


If cure light wounds potions [roll]1d8+1[/roll and  (1d8+1)[ 5 ] 
 
lostsole31
Grum chugs down both vials for a total of   7 healing  .

  "Dead people own no things. Not hers. You didn't take. I needed. Now I has. Freedom if kill son. Queenie say I eat too much. I make prince dead and I get stampy, too."  
DrK
Grum looks at the strange beast and then slowly shrugs.   "Aye well. Ye be careful with them. "   he'll suggest before eying the weird beast.   "So if you are to help me with the death of the Prince what can you be doing? Can ye fight? Do ye throw spells?"  
lostsole31
She simply raises the sword and bow.   "These my magic."  
DrK
Grum pauses looking at the strange beast, then resigned with the already experienced horror and misery of this realm of the dead shrugs.   ”Aye, ye be coming then?”  
That said he’ll stomp through the entrance hall and start heading to the stairs, axes in hand as he will cautiously head upstairs towards where the door to the princes chambers were
lostsole31
Grum climbs down the ladder, leaves the small area to the courtyard .... then across and into the main hall and up the large stairs to the second level .... then to the south side of the keep along the southern passage leading to the door where Prince Uspid and his tooth fairy sycophants are. Now what?
DrK
Grum pauses outside the door for a second, a glance at the strange snake before he speaks.   "I nae be talking to these fools. Straight in and wreak mayhem aye?"   That said he embraces Gorums' blessing as he considers the art of war and then prays for divine favour before kicking open the door

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Standard action: War mind (using +1 insight on attack rolls)

Standard action: Cast Divine favour
Move action: Open the door
 
lostsole31
 Surprise Round ... 

Knowing that his voice in  prayer would be heard on the other side of the room, Grum prepares for  immediate combat immersion and prays to Gorum for luck in battle. Gorum  returns the favor with not only luck, but inspiration of how to deliver a   crushing blow . As he does this, Jalanlagonis gets into a  stylized stance for stealth and opens the door for Grum, despite trying  to hide as much as possible to the side. In opening the door, Grum sees  Prince Uspid at his desk with two tooth fairies flitting about.

 Begin Round One ... 
 R1T25:  Prince Uspid smirks, reading the situation instantly. He waves his hand, and the door closes again.

 R1T17:   Grum , what do you want war mind to go to this round? What do you do?
DrK
Grum snarls,   "Ye smiling scum"   as he hurls the door back open, stepping into the opening and using the akashic power to send his axe flitting across the room at the smirking tooth fairy!

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Free: Warmind to attack
Swift: move 1 E from Plate of Mountain to Lion's Heart (I want that mind affecting save bonus!)
Free: 5ft step into the dorway
Standard: [risky attack] Attack the fairy if within 35ft (if he's not attack other eligible target) using 2 hands on the axe
 --  (1d20+7)[ 23 ]  dam  (1d8+14)[ 19 ] 

* Not included Warmind bonus to attack
* not included Divine favour bonuses
 
lostsole31
 R1T17:  Grum snarls,   "Ye smiling scum,"   as he  hurls the door back open, stepping into the opening and using the  akashic power to send his axe flitting across the room at the smirking  tooth fairy, striking him in the belly for  19 .

 R1T16:   Jalalangonis concentrates briefly before she is suddenly garbed in a  suit of what appears to be the hide of a lion that fits her relatively  alien form. She darts in next to Grum and shoots at the only flying  tooth fairy it can see (Green), hitting it for  1 mod .

 R1T6:  Green concentrates while floating towards the ceiling. Grum resists sleepiness.

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T25:  The Prince concentrates on Grum.

 Grum , roll a Will save ...
DrK
 
 Spoiler: OOC  


Will saves incoming
 (1d20+9)[ 16 ] 
 (1d20+9)[ 12 ] 
 (1d20+9)[ 18 ] 
 (1d20+9)[ 14 ] 
 (1d20+9)[ 12 ] 

Lions heart: +4 vs mind affecting
Dwarf: +2 vs fear/poison (immune fear: Lions Heart)
dwarf: +4 vs Spells and SPA
 
lostsole31
 R2T25:  Grum resists the prince's power.

 R2T21-18:  Grum gets hammered from all directions with mental assaults trying to get him to sleep, all failing.

 R2T17:   Grum , what do you want for your warmind blessing this round? What do you do?

Jalanlagonis on deck, enemies in the hole ...
DrK
Grum shakes off the spells, a snarl in his face.   ”Come a try that again eh.”   he bellows as he steps a little further into the room chopping at the nearest of the fairies


 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Free: 5ft forward (north)
Free: warmind to attack
Standard: Crushing blow attack orange  (1d20+9)[ 25 ]  dam  (1d8+7)[ 11 ]   (1d6)[ 3 ] 
(Not included divine favour or warmind)
 
lostsole31
 R2T17:  Grum shakes off the spells, a snarl in his face.    ”Come a try that again eh!”    he bellows as he steps a little further into the room chopping at the nearest of the fairies, striking Brown for  12 mod , dropping it. 
 Spoiler: Inspiration 
 Scything strike 
 

 R2T16:   Jalanlagonis adjusts her monopedal stance and then disappears from her  spot, only to immediately reappear next to the prince, quick drawing  Helena's longsword and slashing across the monarch's upper right arm for   5 mod .

 R2T6:  Green takes the  long way around the road and closes on the snake-woman, but she is ready  and strikes the tooth fairy in the head for  3 mod .

 End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T25:  The Prince tries to concentrate on something, but Jalanlagonis' threatening presence causes him to fluster.

 R3T20-18:   Blue and Red dive bomb Jalanlagonis to protect their monarch. She gives  a wild swing that throws her off-balance against one, but recovers to  give a nasty gut slash to Red for  10 mod + disabled ( +1d4 bleed ) . She fends off their attacks, and Red falls to the ground from the effort.

 R3T17:   Grum , what war mind blessing do you choose this round? What do you do?

Jalanlagonis on deck, Enemies in the hole ...
DrK
Grum grins happily as his fairy drops then blink in surprise at the snake like being teleporting around. With a slow footfall the dwarf stalks towards the prince and launches a single devastating blow at the obese fairy's skull!

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Free: War mind +1 to hit
Swift: Regal blade boost
Move: 10ft to the left
Standard: Crippling strike vs the Prince  (1d0+9)[ 10 ]  dam  (1d8+7)[ 15 ]  +  (2d6)[ 4 ]  crippling strike +  (1d8)[ 8 ]  regal blade + Bleed 1d3
 * Not included the +1 to hit from warmind or the +2 to hit from Regal blade
 
lostsole31
 R3T17:  Grum grins happily as his fairy drops then blink in surprise at the  snake like being teleporting around. With a slow footfall the dwarf  stalks towards the prince and launches a single devastating blow at the  obese fairy's skull! But it is such a wide attack that he leaves himself wide open.

 R3T16:  Jalalongis takes her turn to right herself.

 R3T6:   Green misses with its pliers, and its bite gets past the strange  leonine hide armor, but is stopped by the snake-woman's scales.

 End Round 3, Begin Round 4 ...

R4T25:  Prince Uspid seems to fail yet again at conjuring pain against his attackers.

 R4T20:   Blue misses with pliers, and when he goes to bite, Jalanlagonis does  some mesmerizing snake dance to avoid the nasty little teeth.

 R4T17:   Grum , you are currently FF, but otherwise able to act normally. What do you do? Also, what bonus do you use for war mind?

Jalanlagonis on deck, enemies in the hole ...
DrK
Cursing his own clumsyness Grum swings again, axe whirling as he seeks to tear into Upsid and a fairy

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Free: War mind +1 to hit
Swift: Enter Vigilant Keeper Stance
Standard: Scything strike [risky strike]  vs the Prince and Blue   (1d20+7)[ 27 ]  dam  (1d8+14)[ 19 ]  vs Upsid and Blue
* Not included the +1 to hit from warmind

Should use up las of the maneuver's and start a new couple granted
 
lostsole31
 R4T17:  Cursing his own clumsiness, Grum swings again - axe whirling as he tears into Prince Uspid's head for  14 mod  &amp; Blue's body for  17 mod ,  dropping Blue. 
 Spoiler: Inspiration 
This is round 2 of fallow, so  nothing happens. It isn't until the end of the next round that maneuvers  recycle. Also, your FF condition ends.
 

 R4T16:  Jalanlagonis withdraws.   "I not steal kill. This you enemy-special."  
 R6T6:  Green attacks Grum, but Grum smites it for  14 mod , dropping it.

 End Round 6, Begin Round 7 ...

R7T25:  The Prince smacks Grum in the left knee for  9  with his scepter, then snaps at him with a bite.

 R7T17:   Grum , what do you do?
DrK
Ignoring the blow to his knee and stepping across the dead and dying tooth fairies Grum advances to the Prince,  a grim   ”yer palace killed her. Ye have to die.”   Before he chops again at the beast

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Free: Warmind to attack roll
Std: Risky strike Upside  (1d20+7)[ 14 ]  dam  (1d8+14)[ 20 ] 
* not included +1 to hit warmind
 
lostsole31
 R7T17:  Ignoring the blow to his knee and stepping across the dead and dying tooth fairies Grum advances to the Prince,  a grim   ”Yer palace killed her. Ye have to die,”   before he chops again at the beast, his war mind just carrying his blow to success as he strikes the Prince dead.

Jalanlagonis (and probably a pained an impassioned Grum) finish off the dying tooth fairies.

 Combat Ends! 
DrK
Grum stamps up and down a few times on the dead prince’s remains and looks at the strange snake like creature.   ”Aye, my thanks for the help. But that felt good aye.”   Looking through the carnage he pauses for a minute or so to search for magic and looks for any obvious bits of the Prince to take back to the Queen.
lostsole31
The prince had a wrought-iron scepter studded with teeth and a key, but nothing else here is of value.

Jalanlagonis nods.   "Yes, you had anger-passion to breathe."  
DrK
Grum grabs up the sceptre and then looks at Jalanlagonis.   "Aye anger passion ye say. Plenty o'that"   Hefting the toothy stick he nods to the door.  "Shall we head back to see the Queenie aye?"  and will then head back towards the Queen in her high tower. He'll keep an axe in hand he goes, walking warily on the look out for any tooth fairies as he heads back before making the long climb and bridge walk back towards the Queen's chamber.
lostsole31
One the way back up, Jalanlagonis sets the gear down by Helena's body so that upon entering the queen's throne room, she is once again without any equipment, and stands behind Grum as he presents himself.

The queen asks in her otherworldly, creepy-fat way,   "Present you proof of my son's defeat?"  
DrK
Grum looks at the Queen somewhat disgusted at her excitement about the murder of her son and throws the  toothy sceptre onto the floor with a loud clatter.   ”Aye ‘highness’ that be his sceptre not much else else left o’him”   he adds

He does nod to Jalanlagonis   “Me thanks to the wee snake man, the help were good.”  
lostsole31
  "Very well,"   says the Queen gleefully. She takes a large ass' jawbone from near her and inks a document with the empty tooth holes of the jawbone. She concentrates, and the document floats over to Grum, who can pluck it out of the air.    "You may both go. Thank you for the service you have given me. Fare well on the roads."  
DrK
Grum looks at the Queen and the stamp and then nods.   ”Aye that be it. I need tae rest highness, with your leave I be resting in the gatehouse then be moving on.”   He won’t offer much more than that as he looks at the Queen before shaking his head.

  “Ye be coming Jalanlagonis?”   He will invite,   “I do be the on a journey, it ends in my death or my escape to the mortal realms.”  
lostsole31
The queen nods as you leave and Jalanlagonis follows. As you make your way down (after Grum's new friend re-equips herself from Helena's gear), Jalanlagonis says,   "No bed. No fed. Why we stop?"  
DrK
Grum looks at the snake and shakes his head.   "I'm tired. I've lost friends. If ye not be tired then ye can keep watch whilst I sleep and recover. I be healing and recovring my wits and chanelling me power for the veils that i wear"  

If the snake follows Grum will go one of the guard rooms where the bone cobra had been and crudely barricade the doors and try and sleep and rest
lostsole31
  "NO, not this room,"   says Jalanlagonis.   "Cushion sofa for comfort in prince-room. You no eat, but at least you sleep proper."  
DrK
Grum looks about and then nods,   "Aye ye be right"   he agrees and heads inside up towards the Prince's room to have a rest
lostsole31
It's not long before Grum flumps onto the couch at an odd angle and goes to sleep. At some unknown time later, Grum groggily awakens to the sound of lip smacking and chewing noises from the other side of the desk.
DrK
Grum slowly rouses and then sighs heavily as he runs his hands through his beard trying to tease out the thick tangles.   "Ah, nae a dream. I had hoped to wake in me' bed."   He sits up slowly and prays to the Iron Lord as akashic energy flows around him and his eyes gleam with holy power.  Following that he'll look to the strange snake being,  "If ye come close and sit still I can help shield ye from harm?" 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Spells for the Day
0: create water, detect magic, read magic
1: Divine favour x 2, Shield of Faith
2: Bulls strength

Moves Readied
- no changes

Veils
minor veil:  Rings of Precognition
minor veil:  Circlet of life and Death

Armour (shoulders): Juggernaut plating
Weapons (hands): juggernaught blade
Stone giant girdle
Lion's heart
 
lostsole31
Jalanlagonis pops another bite of what appears to be the prince's body into her mouth and slithers over to Grum.   "How?"  
DrK
Grum looks at Jalanlagonis eating bits of the Prince with some distaste before shrugging.   "I can invest ye with some of my energy, it'll help keep ye safe from harm, ward of some blows and let me reach ye in a fiight. Nae danger to ye, nae mind reading or owt like that. Just sit still for an hour."  

If Jalanlagonis  agrees then Grum will sit and focus for a hour invest some essences into him

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Do essence bound duty to set Jalanlagonis as ward. To spread around 4E + 1 Reinforced E

Juggernaught Blade 1
Juggernaught Plate
Lion's Heart             1
Stone GIant Girdle   1

Jalanlagonis  1
Chakra POwer 1


 
lostsole31
Jalanlagonis thinks that is weird.   "Don't have time. Must move. Let's go."  
DrK
Grum looks at the snake and then shrugs,   "Aye as ye wish then. Mayhaps ye be wanting it later once we done travel further."   He pauses to pray over himself and feels better for the magic that washes away most of the fatugue and tries as best he can to ignore the nagging feeling of hunger gnawing at his belly.
 Leaving the Fortress of Teeth he turns down the road and looks at his new ally,   "Some of the local critters spoke about two more way stops. I be hoping they not be as hostile as this one and that be having some food."   

That said he'll start walking down the deadroads to the next waystation.


 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Memorise Lesser restoration instead of Bulls strength
Cast lesser restoration to remove fatigue penalties.
 
lostsole31
As the duo continues down the mist-shrouded Dead Roads, both Grum and his new companion here something ... that of a man's voice muttering and crying.
DrK
Grum pauses, raising a hand in warning.   ”Trouble! Be ready for anything.”   he cautions as hefting the blade he extends it into the aggressive attacking form and slowly heads towards the noise.
lostsole31
There is no form that is attacking, or perhaps Grum is having a psychotic break (which would actually be understandable). But he did speak.

  "Who's out there!?"   calls out a fearful man's voice.   "Stay where you are!"  
DrK
Grum with his blade in hand wall will call out with  a delicate shout.   "Who do ye be? We are travellers, we dinnnae want trouble. We just be wanting to pass onto the next waystation."  

Looking at his snakey compaion   "Get ready fer trouble. Nearly all have been bad here."  
lostsole31
  "Way station?"   is heard the voice, more to themselves, then more carefully,   "Where are we? What is this place?"  
DrK
Grum stands his ground, blade leant across his shoulder and watches and waits, a careful   "Ye be in the dead roads. I nae be happy about it either. But come forwrad and be recognised eh?"   he suggests waiting with his senses alert and muscles tensed.
lostsole31
   " Recognize  me?!?"    he shouts in alarm.   "You mean you been following me?"  
DrK
Grum look a Jalanlagonis and then shrugs.   "Noise in the mist... there be nothing"   he grunts and then he starts to walk down the road, a careful eye towards where the noise had originated as he just walks on with nothing emerging from the mist
lostsole31
A lick of flame comes out of the mist to land in front of Grum's feet.
DrK
As the flame lands near his feet he stops and looks carefully before saying loudly to his companion   "I wouldnae' go in to the mist. ye fall off the road ye may not get back"  . Then more loudly , with muscles tensed and blade in hand he'll shout into the mist where the flame had come from.   "Come out where we can see ye. Nae more hiding."  
lostsole31
  "Name yourselves!"   calls the voice.   "What is your business! What's this about a waystation?"  
DrK
Grum growls a series of dwarven oaths under his breath and resin are slowly walking further down tye road away from the voice.   ”Leave us be…”   he grunts as he continues down the dead road slowly
lostsole31
As you continue down the path, it sounds like a man in armor with no skill in stealth half-mooning around the two of you to follow from the back Every now and then, you get a glimpse of a silhouette of a man of medium height, following you at a distance.

Do you ignore him and let him very badly follow, or accost him?
DrK
With a figure now visible rather than merely a disembodied voice in the mist Grum slows to a halt and and waves the man closer.   "Aye, ye, I can see ye. Come here and talk in good manners eh? Nae hiding in the mist."  . He grounds the point of the massive juggernaught blade in the road's dusty surface leaning his hands on the heavy crosspiece.   "As ye did ask. I am named Grum, I am a weary traveller in these parts but I've nae wish fer trouble. Only to go to 9 eaves and then a scriptorum so that I can leave this place. Now I've honest with ye. So ye can be honest with me. Who do ye be?"  
lostsole31
There is the sound of someone turning and running away, despite being slowed by armor.

Jalanlagonis looks at Grum and says,   "The words good. The manner poor. You not a speaker good, eh?"  
DrK
Grum claps Jalagonis on the shoulder,   "Aye, well I guess not eh? But they been leaving us alone now. So onto 9 Eaves eh?"   he'll suggest and continue heading down the road to the next waystation.
lostsole31
They continue on for an indeterminate amount of time. Looming over the road like a wizened old man, this ancient manor of dark, splintery wood rises three stories tall. Several windows and small balconies jut from the manor irregularly, each under a sweeping eave of the building’s sharply pitched roof. A wide doorway stands in the front of the manor, with a greenhouse of grimy glass set against its side. The building exudes an air of gloom and age.
DrK
Grum pauses and stares up at the strange building. Walking to the left and right of the main door he'll glance down the sides of the building to look for any side doors, broken walls or any other forms of entry. If nothing is there he'll look to his companion   "A foreboding place. If I were ye I'd keep weapons ready and sharp."   Without hesitation he'll push open the door with a forceful shove.
lostsole31
The couple do a circuit of Nine Eaves, and find an exterior door to the  west that goes to the greenhouse, and then a single door on the  northeastern part of the building (likely a servant's entrance). They  make it back down to the front and Grum makes his warning, and opens the  large door.

The weak light thrown by two dim lamps barely  illuminates a vestibule with several coat racks, benches, and an iron  umbrella stand. The wallpaper is stained with age and decorated with  repeating patterns of snails. A heavy, dark wooden door exits to the  south, while a sliding double door leads to the north.

Also in  this room are two taut pustules on the ground, wriggling as if ready to  burst, they look like mobile wounds scuttling around on a bristle of  slick hairs.

 Grum , what do you do?
DrK
Grum looks at the pustules and steps back,   Nasty lookimg thimgs, so ye have a bow?”   he asks of the snake

Stepping away he resides the blade, leaning forward to take advantage of the reach


 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Move: 5ft back from the door
Swift: enter titanic swings form
- allocate essence: looks to only have 2 invested so remains 3
1 to chakra power
2 to juggernaught plate
 
lostsole31
 Begin Round One ...

R1T20:  Grum looks at the pustules and steps back,   "Nasty lookimg thimgs, so ye have a bow?”   he asks of the snake. Stepping away he resides the blade, leaning forward to take advantage of the reach.

 R1T19:   Jalanlagonis steps back, taking out the bow, and shooting the nearest icky. She strikes it for  11 .

 R1T15-5:   The things scuttle forward. As the first one moves forward (the one  that was hit by the arrow), Grum easily hits it and makes it POP in a  nasty, icky splatter in a 10-foot-radius that catches Grum and his  companion. Grum takes 5 acid and Jalanlagonis dodges yet still takes the  lion's share, yet seems unharmed. The second one had moved in as Grum  attacked the other, but Jalanlagonis' tail slaps it for  10 . The thing gets underneath Grum's feet, but doesn't get past his armor.

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T20:   Grum , what do you do? This thing is underfoot.

Jalanlagonis on deck, Icky in the hole ...
DrK
Grum spits out fragments of putri acid and snarls an oath under his breath as he leaps 5ft to the south to avoid his boots standing in it before chopping down with the blade, a whispered prayer healing some of the damage it had caused.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


5ft to the South
Swift: Fervour healing  (1d6)[ 4 ] 
Standard: [risky attack]  (1d20+8)[ 15 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 17 ] 
- 4 damage on a miss

(Due to furious focus I didn't include the to hit penalty on this attack)
 
lostsole31
 R2T20:  Grum spits out fragments of putrid acid and snarls an oath under his  breath as he leaps 5' to the south to avoid his boots standing in it  before chopping down with the blade, a whispered prayer healing some of  the damage it had caused (  4 healing  ).  The blade splatters the thing, which pops in another splash of acidic  goo that completely wipes out the fortification Grum gets from his  stone giant's girdle .
DrK
Grum glances at Jalagonis and shakes his head.   ”Aye, pus balls that attack. Should expect it ‘ere.”   he grumbles. Looking around he searches around the small hallway as his belt recharges

Once searched he’ll move forwards and open the door beyond
lostsole31
It only takes two minutes to do a quick search in here (so only 2 regained on SGG), and nothing else of interest is noted.
DrK
With nothing of interest Grum nods to the next door,   "Jalagonis can ye' grab the door into the next chamber tae the north. Me sword be too big to do both"   he ventures nodding at the door leading further into the mansion
lostsole31
She slithers up and opens the sliding door, revealing the area beyond.

A massive staircase of dark wood rises to the north, its maroon carpet pitted with age. The railings are carved to resemble ascending ghosts. The wall atop the stairs bears an enormous, looming portrait 6 feet wide and 9 feet tall. The portrait depicts a bearded older man with curling ram horns, hunched under the weight of a massive snail shell on his back. The figure bears a half grin, as though he knows a particularly delightful secret.

A chandelier of iron and glass hangs down above the stair’s lower landing from the ceiling 20 feet above, its few lit candles flickering weakly. From the lower landing, three different sliding doors lead to the west, south (your door), and east. From the upper landing, sliding double doors lead to the east and west—one on each side of the looming portrait.
DrK
Grum steps across the threshold cautiously looking about and then glances up at portrait and shrugs.   "Funny looking place?"   Glancing up he then nods to the door to his left (west)   "Shall we try in here?"   and waist for his snaky companion to get the next door.
lostsole31
Jalanlagonis nods and gets behind Grum, who then opens the door. This large parlor has several padded chairs and an enormous sofa with upholstery so dark that it is barely visible in the dim room. A delicate wooden table with a distinct inlaid pattern bears a full decanter. Sliding doors lead out to the west, north, and east.
DrK
Grum will walk into the centre of the room looking around carefully but if nothing jumps out he'll head towards the decanter and half a sniff.   "Strange no-one be here?"   he'll venture as he moves cautiously with the blade held ready.
lostsole31
Jal follows. Grum smells the smell of alcohol, though it isn't a common dwarven spirit, yet it is somewhat strong.
DrK
Grum grins,   "Nae' as good as dwarven spirit  but still enough tae put hair yer beard eh?"   he suggest to the snake like man. WIth no apparent foo or danger he'll continue across the room to the double doors on the west side of the room to open them and have a look.
lostsole31
  "Why would I need hair? And are you telling this 'lady' she has a beard?!"   inquires Jalanlagonis with some spiciness in her words.

Grum opens the sliding doors. Grimy glass comprises the walls and ceiling of this large greenhouse, barely admitting the dim moonlight. Benches filled with live potted plants line the sides of the room; bags of soil and gardening equipment are stashed underneath. Some of the bags are open, spilling dirt across the greenhouse floor. Strange tracks, as if left by a large earthworm, crisscross the dirt. A sturdy iron-framed glass exterior door leads out of this room to the west, while your current sliding double door leads out to the east.
DrK
Grum eyes the tracks and grunts,   "nae a good sign eh?"   before following the tracks heading deeper into the garden intending to do a circuit and search for anything of value or interest, or importantly edible!
lostsole31
 Surprise Round ... 
 S12:   Jalanlagonis darts forward a few feet while getting into a crouch and  snaps her tail at something in a dirt clump to the NE. It falls over and  takes  1 mod .

 S9:  The creature lets out a shriek of surprise and frustration.

 Begin Round One ... 
 R1T19-18:  Two creatures zoom in through the door from the east, the way you just came, hovering 5' off the ground.

 R1T16:   Grum ,  the creature prone to your NE is a creature with a stout canine torso  atop a slimy mass resembling an earthworm. Disgusting veins dangle from  its face. The two creatures coming in from the door are  insectoid creature with two pairs of bat wings, a tangle of thin legs, and needle-sharp proboscises. 

What do you do?
DrK
Grum looks at the tentacled dog and then at the buzzing massive flies with needles on their faces.   "Watch the dog aye.."   he shouts to his scaled companion as he swings at both of the flying beasts


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Swift: Vigilant keeper stance
Standard: Attack blue stirge [risky strike]  (1d20+8)[ 16 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 15 ] 
--&gt; 4 damage to red if hit (Titan swings)
--&gt; 4 damage to blue if miss (titan weapon)
 
lostsole31
 R1T16:  Grum looks at the tentacled dog and then at the buzzing massive flies with needles on their faces.    "Watch the dog, aye.."    he  shouts to his scaled companion as he swings at both of the flying  beasts. He misses as he attacks over Jalanlagonis's shoulder, grazing  Blue for  4 .

 R1T15-13:  The sound of a man screaming to the east is heard.

 R1T12:   Jalanlagonis changes her swaying stance as she shifts to the NW to open  the stirges for Grum. She two-hand draws her longsword, just barely  cutting the prone creature, but nearly half of the blow is absorbed by  the rubbery hide as she only does  4 mod .   "Priessst-dwarf, know you what thiss iss?"  
 R1T9:   The puppy-worm holds still again carefully, and now has 3 images of  itself shifting in and out its primary form until Grum can no longer  quite tell what is an image and what is real. It stands up and Grum  dispels one image even while Jalanlagonis strikes the real critter for  2 mod . It has a terrible and fell look about it.

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...
 
 R2T19-18:   Having focused on the puppy-worm when it was standing, Grum is unable  to defend himself from the two stirges attacking him, both attaching to  him, and draining his blood for a total of   2 CON  . In addition, he sees an armored human to the east in the other room, coming his way.

 R2T16:   Grum , you have two stirges attached to you. What do you do?
DrK
  "I dinnae ken"   he shouts as the massive bugs impale him. Whilring he moves to bash them off the sword blade swinging through both of the creatures

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Attack red [risky strike]  (1d20+8)[ 17 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 17 ] 
--&gt; if hit then blue takes 4
--&gt; if miss then red takes 4
 
DrK
 
 Spoiler: Will Save 


Will  (1d30+9)[ 11 ] 
+4 vs spells, +2 vs fear, +4 vs mind affecting
 
lostsole31
 R2T16:  Only Grum's hardy dwarven mind and resistance to fear overcomes the look of fear from the pupworm.

    "I dinnae ken,"    he shouts as the  massive bugs impale him. Whirling, he moves to bash them off the sword  blade swinging through both of the creatures - dropping Red ( 17 ) and wounding Blue ( 4 ).

 R2T15-13:  There appears to be an attached stirge on the man in the next room as he shouts in panic and drains his blood (  1 CON  ).

 R2T12:  Jalanlagonis dispels an image with her sword, but then follows up with her dagger for  5 mod + soulcllaim .

 R2T9:   The pupworm furiously tries to strike Jalanlagonis, even valiantly, but  her speed and scales are too much for it. It backs up to the doorway.

 End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T24:  The man fails to strike the stirge on him with his morningstar, backing up to the doorway near the pupworm.   "Help me! Please! Another one is out there, too!"  

The man's voice sounds familiar.

 R3T19:  The stirge on Grum sucks his blood for  1 CON .

 R3T16:   Grum ,  the pupworm's looks are still creepy, despite your initial success.  Roll a Will save. Blue is still stuck on you. What do you do?

Enemies on deck and in the hole ...
DrK
Grum grunts as he starts to feel pale and sweaty with the blood loss. Swinging down with the blade he tries to shear it off his body. A glance towards the other room shows his face a little confused, and a bellowed   "who be there?"  
 
 Spoiler: OOc 


Standard: risky strike the Stirge  (1d20+8)[ 17 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 18 ]  4 dam on a miss
Swift: 1 spend 1 fervour to lay on hands  (1d6)[ 4 ] 

Will save  (1d20+9)[ 22 ]  Immune to fear, +4 vs mind affecting, +2 vs fear, +4 vs spells/SPA
 
lostsole31
 R3T16:  Grum grunts as he starts to feel pale and sweaty with the blood loss.  Swinging down with the blade, Grum shears it off his body, completely ruining the monster. He touches his hand to himself for   4 healing  . A glance  towards the other room shows his face a little confused, and he bellows,    "Who be there?"  
 R3T15-13:  Brown sucks the blood of the man (  1 CON  ). Another stirge charges him, and wielding it two-handed and carefully he clips it for  6 . It still manages to attach to his leg and suck his blood for   1 CON  .

  "I'm ... I'm Evan"   he says wanly.

 R3T12:   Like her dwarven ally, Jalanlagonis ignores the supernatural waves of  terror the pupworm's creepy gaze casts. She slithers foward and her  sword strikes the monster with Helena's sword for  9 mod  even as she stabs with her dagger for  4 mod , dropping it.

 End Round 3, Begin Round 4 ...

R4T24:  Covered in two stirges the man swings his mace furiously at the one on his leg, striking it for  7  and dropping it. There is still some panic as the last stirge is on his shoulder, though.

 R4T16:   Grum , what do you do?

Last stirge (Brown) on deck, Jalanlagonis in the hole ...
DrK
Grim advances into the other room, a confused look at the stranger and uses to sword to skewer the last storage off the man

 
 Spoiler: OOC  


Move to 10ft from the man
[risky strike] the last stirge  (1d20+8)[ 18 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 14 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R4T16:  Grim advances into the other room, a confused look at the stranger and uses to sword to skewer the last stirge off the man.

Jalanlagonis puts all creatures to the sword to be sure.

 Combat Ends! 
DrK
Grum pauses and looks for more danger, a nod to the snake person as they are skewering the dead beasts. He looks at the man they’ve just rescued.   ”Who do ye be? Is this yer house that be filled with beasties?”   he demands gruffly.
lostsole31
  "If I lived here, you don't think I would've taken care of the stirges by now!?"   the man snaps defensively.   "I can barely see you. You have a light?"  
DrK
Grum shakes his head,   "Nae need tae be testy. Its a funny place and nowt would shock me here. I dinnae have a light, I ken' see in the dark. But come to green house it be lighter"   he suggests as he wanders into greenhouse and starts to search around. He will also pause and gaze around the room sweeping it from end  detecting magic 
lostsole31
Do you try to have the man in the magic sweep?
DrK
With the full sweep of the room Grum also includes the newcomer, suspicious of anyone he's met in this place
lostsole31
His morningstar, a small vial at his belt, and a length of crystal as long as a forearm .... all are magical.
DrK
A sweep of the grrenhouse shows nothing save for the items on the man Grum will shrug.  "I be Grum. I'm stuck, near alone from those who came here and angry with it all. How did ye' ge stuck here?"  he asks the last as he backs away and begins a quick search of the greenhouse looking for anything of value, or anything edible.
lostsole31
  "That's my story to tell only once I feel comfortable enough to tell it. But short answer,"   Evan continues,   "is while looking for something I was duped and entered a cave. Now I'm here."  

The man wears a fine suit of chainmail, has a very well-wrought morningstar, but it otherwise dressed like a simple treasure. On the small vial and length of crystal at his belt - something Grum only really noticed through use of his spell - adds to it. He has no pack or any other type of gear, extraordinary or mundane. Though it should be noted that his belt pouch has some heft to it.
DrK
Grum nods.   "I had nae cave. There was a flash o'light and I woke in a tomb. I been dead since then wandering these blasted roads. My friend were killed by a bast**rd wardrobe that et' her and I met the snake helping a tooth fairy queen. I do be hating this place. I.m looking for a man wi' a snali back to get me out of here."  

As he finsihes he continues he search of the garden fr anything edible or interesting
lostsole31
Unfortunately, none of the plants that have survive are food-plants. It seems like the greenhouse hasn't been tended to in awhile, so all of the plants are dead.

A small slate chalkboard hangs on a peg near the sliding door, with a piece of chalk tied to the frame (see Handouts).

The glass door to the west leads to outside the manor.
DrK
Grum looks at the chalkboard and shrugs   "A funny wee thing aye.. But nowt else here."   He nods to the snake and the man and points back into the small drawing room and the door to the north of that room.   "Last one in this room aye"   he muttters as he strides towrads the only other unopened door and opens it
lostsole31
Luckily for the weakened human stumbling at the back, there is a faint light throughout ... it isn't completely dark ... but still difficult for him.

Grum opens the door. Strains of harp music fill this room, emanating from a large harp placed on a six-foot diameter dais in the room’s southwest corner. Other musical instruments are mounted on the walls here, from large woodwinds to tiny fiddles. A few padded stools are scattered throughout the room.
DrK
Grum smirks a tiny bit at the man staggering behind him before looking around the instruments for a likely one he could wrap some fabric around to make a simple torch
  ”Funny thing aye, the harp be playing itself.”   After making a crude torch and offering it to the young man he moves to just lift the harp from its plinth and move it one side
lostsole31
Nothing Grum would fine would make a good torch ... and he knows as much as a solid survivalist. Either something won't burn properly at all, or would burn too quickly and or uncontrolled. Without a proper flammable fuel (various types of oils and so forth), it would be a waste and you would just destroy whatever you are ripping up. Evan can see, it's just all deep shadows (sort of dimmer-than-dim lighting, but not darkness).

Grum moves the harp around, though just moving the harp doesn't seem to stop it from playing. Does he stop the music, or just relocate the instruments, or leave it alone?
DrK
Grum dumps the harp off the plinth and out of a morbid curiosity places the deepest sounding obo or bagpipes on the stage, a glance at the others,   ”just wondering eh?”  
lostsole31
As soon as Grum drops the harp on the ground, the music stops playing.  Seemingly in response to that, an emaciated, hairless canine with a  strange air of menace and cruelty about it appears next to Grum.

 Begin Round One ...

  R1T24:   Jalanlagonis gets into a low crouch, and is suddenly gone, reappearing  south of the weird dog and striking it in the rear haunch for  12 . She asks,   "Any idea what is?"  
 R1T17:   Grum , what do you do? Your blade isn't in hand from your time searching the greenhouse.
DrK
With juggernaught blade away and dog beside him he goes for a simpler option. Switching into a stance to keep it pinned in place he draws his warhammer and strikes a savage blow with both hands

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Swift: Stance vigilant keeper
Move: draw warhammer
Standard: Crippling strike  (1d20+8)[ 16 ]  dam  (1d8+6)[ 10 ]  +  (2d6)[ 12 ]  + d3 bleed
 
lostsole31
 R1T17:  With  juggernaut blade  away and dog beside him, Grum goes for a simpler  option. Switching into a stance to keep it pinned in place, he draws his  warhammer and strikes a savage blow with both hands, striking it in the neck for  17 mod ( +1d3 bleed ) .

 R1T13:    Evan stands very still, and a scale of musical notes plays, growing  louder for a second. During the musical notes, there is a brief  shimmering in a wide bubble around Evan, which disappears with the last  musical note.

 R1T8:  The dog takes   3 bleed  . It gives a horrific, and incredibly loud, baying howl, but all three of the allies manage to keep their cool.

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T24:  Jalanlagonis hits the dog's back leg for  10  with the sword, cuts it shoulder with the dagger for  3 mod , but her tail bounces off of its hide.

 R2T17:   Grum , what do you do? 
 Spoiler: Inspiration 
 Scything Strike 
 

Evan on deck, Fear-puppy in the hole ...
DrK
Grum ignores the baying, a gravelly   "Hold you weesht yer beast"   he says as he swings down heavily once more, a careful lining up for a more regal strike!

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


free: 5ft step NE into flanking
Swift: regal blade boost
standard: [risky strike]  (1d20+6)[ 11 ]  dam  (1d8+12)[ 13 ]  +  (1d8)[ 7 ]  from regal blade
--&gt; not included +2 to hit from flanking or +2 from regal blade
 
lostsole31
 R2T17:  Grum ignores the baying, a gravelly,   "Hold you weesht, yer beast"    as he swings down heavily once more, a careful lining up for a more  regal strike, only for his knocking of small room items beneath him as  he gets into position throws his balance off enough that his weapon only  gets deflected by the hound's hide. 
 Spoiler: Inspiration 
 Crushing Blow 
 

 R2T13:   The same sound of musical notes is heard, but lasts a little longer,  along a slightly longer musical passage. A bolt of fire is released from  Evan to strike the loud-mouthed hound in the chest for   12 fire  , dropping it!

Jalanlagonis cuts its throat easily with Helena's sword.

 Combat Ends! 
DrK
Grum looks at the beast and shakes his head,   "Funny wee beast eh?"   THen will give a cursory look around the room. If nothing of interest is found he'll head back to the entry corridor and cross it to the door on the other side to continue exploring the ground floor
lostsole31
  "Fine instruments, but no want carry,"   says Jalanlagonis.  She respectfully puts the harp back on the dais, and the music automatically begins to play again.

There are seven masterwork musical instruments in there, though one other is out of place ... a very shabby-looking drum.
DrK
Grum agrees with Jalanlagonis about the lack of carrying. With a shrug he gestures back to the office,   ”Come on shall we explore further.”   he will suggest as he heads back to the office, then the hallway and then to the door that led to east that he had not explored earlier
lostsole31
What now, now that the party is at the door?
DrK
THe dwarf nods to the snake and the newcomer,   "Ye folks ready?"   he asks briefly, before with juggernaught blade readied he'll push open the door and cautiously step through.
lostsole31
Grum opens the door. This gloomy dining room contains a narrow table  with a single high-backed wooden chair at each end. Other chairs and a  sideboard stand against the room’s eastern wall. The headless corpse of a  hairy, humanoid creature sprawls across the middle of the table.  Snacking on that corpse are three large (size Small) bugs of some kind  that turn their bodies and antennae to regard the now opened door

 Begin Round One ....

R1T24:  Jalanlagonis darts past Grum and then to the northeast. As she does and sees the threat, she hisses,   "Big bugses!"  

Helena's silver sword slashes through the northernmost one (Red) for  9 + disabled .

 R1T21:  Evan  moves past Grum and immediately south along the wall. He concentrates  very briefly, holding out his hand, and a flash erupts with a pop and  the southern bug on the table (Green) is hit for   12 force   and drops.

 R1T13:   Jal's bug, despite its mortal wound, bites instinctively at her. It  looks like it might have succeeded, but for the snake-woman's brilliant  dance counter that then puts her at the north end of the table. The  strain of action is too much and Red drops.

 R1T11:   Grum ,  one of these bugs remain, but unlike the other two that were actually  on the table, this one was off the table and on the other side. What do  you do?

Blue on deck, Jal in the hole ...
DrK
Grum lacks any subtlety, glancing at the newcomer he nods in approval bfore striding forwards with the Juggernaught blade switching to the aggressive titanic swings style and strides to the table chopping down at the last bug from across the table

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Swift: titanic swings style
Move: 10ft east, 5ft south
Standard [risky strike] at blue with 10ft reach  (1d20+8)[ 12 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 17 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R1T11:  Grum lacks any subtlety. Glancing at the newcomer, he nods in approval  before striding forwards to the table with the  juggernaut blade  -  switching to the  aggressive titanic swings style and chops down  at  the last bug from across the table. But the small bug is smaller than  the height of the table, gaining cover, and the akashic weapon simply  cuts a deep furrow into the hardy table.

 R1T4:  The bug jumps onto the table, right on the carcass, biting at Grum.

 End Round One, Begin Round 4 ...

R1T24:  Jalanlagonis takes a wide circuit before closing on the table and smites the little creature with Helena's sword.

 Combat Over! 

The party makes sure that the antenna-twitching bugs will cause no more problems.
DrK
Grum looks a the dead bugs and unceremoniously pushes the last one off the table. Then after a glance at the poor dead body on the table nods to the door to the North,   "Dining room... should be kitchens nearby and I be starving"   so he'll advance north and push that door open to continue exploring
lostsole31
 Surprise Round ...

S22:  Grum opens the door and  is surprised by something on the other side. It steps into the doorway  and coughs on Grum and Jalanlagonis, a thick spray of phlegm.

 Begin Round One ...

R1T22:  Before Grum could even react, the monster slams into his armor with phlegm-coated tusks.

 R1T14:   Evan crosses south of the table, and sings, and it sounds like several  similar voices sing with him at the same time. But it is only brief and  he ends with a crescendo, and launches a bolt of fire at the creature.  But as that fire strikes, it washes over the creature and dissipates  harmlessly.   "The enemy can resist my power, and likely your spells as well!"  
 R1T9:  Jal moves up into the northeast corner of the room, next to Grum, Helena's sword striking against the monster's ample hide.

 R1T8:   Grum ,  you are facing what appears to be a monstrous wild boar infested with  wriggling worms and accompanied by a cloud of buzzing flies. It has a  truly baleful glare. What do you do?

Enemy on deck, Evan in the hole ...
DrK
Grum curses and lashes out with his blade at the pig,   ”Ye rotten swine!”   screamed at the beast

 
 Spoiler: OOC  


Swift: regal blade
Standard: crippling strike [risky]
Attack  (1d20+8)[ 11 ]  (+2 for regal blade)
Dam  (2d6+10)[ 15 ]  + (2d6)[ 6 ]  +  (1d8)[ 4 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R1T8:   Grum curses and lashes out with his blade at the pig, screaming,    ”Ye rotten swine!”   

His  blade strikes against the hide, popping a massive pus bubble and  maggots splatter everywhere, but it is only a cosmetic strike, and  nothing harmful. Still, Gorum inspires his servant to crush the thing  when next able. 
 Spoiler: Inspiration 
 Crushing blow .
 

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T22:   The thing gores at Grum, but he is read. He performs a moulinet as he  sidesteps to catch behind the monster's tusk and wrench, spraining its  neck for  3 DEX !

 R2T14:  While  the others keep the boar-fiend busy, Evan takes out something that looks  like a slender wand - but made of crystal, not wood - and taps it to  himself. There is a brief glow as magic obviously went into Evan.

 R2T9:   Instead of using any of the weapons in hand, Jal instead whips her tail  underneath to knock the legs out from under the monster, knocking it  down hard for  11 mod + tripped .  Some of that damage  seemed to be faint wisps of its vital energy being ephemerally torn away  rather than pure physical force. It just barely keeps from being kept  in her coils.

 R2T8:   Grum , what do you do?

Monster on deck, Evan in the hole ...
DrK
Grum grins,  "ye dumb beast"  as he dances around, slipping into his fighting stance bringing the blade down in a crushing blow

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Swift: Vigilant Keeper stance
Standard Crushing Blow [risky]  (1d20+8)[ 17 ]  dam  (3d6+10)[ 20 ]  and Save vs FF
(not included Prone attack bonus)
 
lostsole31
 R2T8:    "Ye dumb beast,"    Grum taunts with a grin as he dances around, slipping into his fighting  stance and bringing the blade down in a crushing blow on its hip for  15 mod , its putrescent body protecting it from some of the dwarf's wrath. 
 Spoiler: Inspiration 
 Scything strike .
 

 End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T22:   The monster attempts to scramble to its feet, using the doorway to  block it from Jalanlagonis, but Grum manages to just catch it in the  shoulder for  12 mod , but now it's on its feet again. It gores Grum ... right in the groin ... for  17 , blasting past the faint remnants of the fortifying belt.

 R3T14:  Evan spends several seconds concentrating deeply.

 R3T9:   Jal slithers back a few feet, holds the bow in one hand, and then  reaches out to touch Grum, bangles on her wrist glowing softly. Touching  the dwarf, he is still badly wounded, but at least the act soothes his  pain (  +2 THP  ).

 R3T8:   Grum , what do you do?

Evan on deck, Jalanlagonis in the hole ...
DrK
Grum grunts in pain as the beast gores him and steps back, before chopping down with a massive blow, a muttered  "draw it in, surround it" 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Risky strike  (1d20+8)[ 13 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 14 ] , Str mod if I miss.
5ft step south
 
lostsole31
 R3T8:  Grum grunts in pain as the beast gores him and steps back muttering,  "Draw it in; surround it,"   before  chopping down with a massive blow ... missing the monster, and the many  splinters of word showering the creature from the miss into the floor  don't seem to hurt it.

 End Round 3, Begin Round 4 ...

R4T22:   The monster doesn't oblige, but does the opposite, backing out of the  doorway into the other room.  It belches horrific oily fluids onto the  ground in front of it. The foul fluids are very slick, but Grum's  dwarven low center of gravity keeps him on his feet even as  Jalanlagonis' serpentine lower body keeps her upright as well.

 R4T14:    Evan concentrates, and then sends forth a ray of fire that goes over  the head of his new allies, but hits against the doorway harmlessly with  a little blackening.

 R4T9:  Jal concentrates  again on the enemy, before disappearing from the putrid goo on the  floor, appearing behind the monster, and then hitting it in its thick  neck for  9 mod .

 R4T8:   Grum , something about this horror bothers you on a primal level, and it leaves you  shaken . And remember it is slick under your feet spreading north to the doorway. What do you do?

Monster on deck, Evan in the hole ...
DrK
Muttering about the disgusting beast Grum strides towards, closing to it and jabs with the massive juggernaught blade

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Advance 10ft North
Risky strike  (1d20+8)[ 28 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 21 ] 

* not included flanking or shaken bonuses/penalties
 
lostsole31
 R4T8:  Muttering about the disgusting beast Grum strides  towards it, managing to keep his footing on the slick, and hacks with  the massive juggernaut blade, slashing it across the gut for  27 mod ( +1d4 bleed ) !

 End Round 4, Begin Round 5 ...

R5T22:  The monster takes   3 bleed + disabled  , and out of pure malice bites at Grum, biting his right hand for  15 . Its wounds too great, it falls over, and Jalanlagonis gives the honor of the CDG to the dwarf.

 Combat Ends! 
DrK
Grum pauses, leans on the blade and nods to his new found allies.   "Aye, a nasty ugly beast that one."   he pushes it over a little with the sword and then kneels down to examine it.   "What manner of beast do it be?"   he asks the others out of curiosiyu as he then looks around the room, aware now that there may be some food here to fill the growing hunger gnawing at his stomach.
lostsole31
Jalanlagonis looks over the creature, moving it with Helena's sword so as not to touch the creature. "Don't touch it. Disease. I think this is sahkil called 'nucol.' Sahkil are monsters from beyond the worlds. They eat souls traveling the River of Souls. Enemy of all other outer beings, but especially psychopomps. Be bitten .. or even touching ... nucol can disease with nervous consumption. Eat at sanity."

While she says nerd things, Grum gets a look at the room they're in. A large cast-iron sink stands next to a potbelly stove, and counters around the room contain racks of knives, stacks of mismatched dishes, and piles of pots. A large pile of firewood near the stove has been tipped over, spilling old, worm-ridden wood across the floor. Doors lead out of this room to the north and south.
DrK
Grum nods,   "Aye, it be a disgusting thing I can well believe it be diseased and maggoty"   he pauses and starts flicking open the cupboards and the kitchen cabinets to search for some food.   "Have a wee look about friends, lets be looking for some scran."   he suggests as he has a quick search of the room, keeping a wary eye on the doors to the North and south.
lostsole31
This kitchen isn’t used often, but the owner seems to have kept it tidy for rare visitors. They also collect far more dishes than they likely need; the number of dishes here far exceeds the number required even if the manor were filled to capacity with guests. The dishes are an eclectic combination that struck the owner's fancy. Although they are all of high quality, none of them match each other.

The door to the north leads to the pantry! This small pantry has three doors, including one sturdy wooden door that leads outside the manor to the east. Sliding doors to the west and south have yellowed paper notices tacked to them. The shelves here contain a few bags and boxes.

Assuming you search the pantry as well ... As the owner rarely entertained visitors that need to eat, this pantry is stocked only with long-lasting rations, such as boxes of jerky and wax-sealed bags of rice. A small wine rack contains several old vintages with cryptic labels drawn from several different worlds, though a few bottles looks expensive. The notices are minutiae—reminders about place settings, inventories of food storage, and so on. None of them have been relevant for many years.
DrK
Grum grins as he see's the food in the pantry.   "Aye, that be right my friends"    he murmurs as he finds the food.   "What food do we be wanting?"   he asks the others as he looks to the supplies to start preparing some food, a hearty meal of jerky and rice prepared on the stove.
lostsole31
Evan, still badly drained from the stirges, asks a little weakly,   "That hard stuff has to be boiled, and it's not like.."  

... as he was talking, Grum prayed to Gorum for fresh water ...

  "... never mind. It looks like boiled jerky and rice, which is better than nothing."  

It will take some time for the jerky and rice to take on enough water and to be cooked well enough to eat (and digest), but before too long, the meal is served. It isn't great, but it is food. Meanwhile, some candles were stowed that Evan lit, with his weaker human eyes.
DrK
Grum ploughed through a great mound of jerky and rice, making a second great portion lest they need some for next day in these strange lands. As he sits at the table with the candles flickering he looks to Evan,   "So... we been doing battle together. How is that you came to be trapped here? I was killed, there was a flash and then I woke up in a wee coffin with some others. They've died here in this vile place, but I still be looking for a way out. What has brought ye here?"    
lostsole31
Evan's grip on his spoon turns hard.   " My  business brought me here. And  my  business it will remain."  
DrK
Grum glances at the snake and shrugs at the man’s refusal to share anything.   ”Eat yer fill, stuff your pockets and we can see what else lies down here.”    he adds nodding to the last doors to the west that he hasn’t explored

Once they have all eaten and filled any available containers with a couple of days of food he’ll heft his sword and head to the western doors to some of the last of the ground floor rooms
lostsole31
Unfortunately, or all the dishes that the owner had, he obviously never sponsored a Tupperware party. There are some dried jerky and rice that can be carried in the simple bags, but not anything already prepared.

The party eats and rests for an hour to let food settle. In doing so, Grum's hunger pangs go away, and his  stone giant's girdle  is topped off. Though Evan's strange force field drops.  Once ready, Jalanlagonis gets in her low crouch stance.

It seems like you've gone through the entire first floor. Go up?
DrK
With the whole downstairs explored he suggest   ”upstairs?”   he offers and suggests and stomps to the base of the stairs before starting to climb the stairs, sword outstretched
lostsole31
It's a long, beautiful staircase with once-fine burgundy rug that goes up to a landing that is roughly 15' square, with two facing doors .. one east, one west.
DrK
Grum stomps up the stairs lookin cautiously around, sword held in hand before nodding to to the western door, and pushing it open with a great yank of the handle
lostsole31
This room has several overstuffed chairs and a few low tables and cabinets. Sliding doors lead to the east and south, while to the north a glass door opens onto a small semicircular balcony.
DrK
Grum stops, muttering a brief prayer to  detect magic al auras as he stops at the doorway and slowly scans the room.   "Wait a wee moment aye lads?"   he suggests as he sweeps the room cautiously.
lostsole31
Grum senses a muted magical aura coming from inside a liquor cabinet in the room.
DrK
THe dwarf grins to himself and slowly enters the room, sword still held outstretch as a "just in case" given his experience of the Dead Roads so far. Heading to the cabinet he'll look at the desk to see if its locked before motioning to the drawers,   "Dinnae trust this place. Either of ye be able to look fer danger traps?"   as he waits to see if either can assist before he'll try and open the drawer and see what the magical aura is,.
lostsole31
  "I can't even barely see in this place,"   says poor, human-eyed Evan.   "It's only this really faint background glow that gets me to go anywhere at all."  

On the way across the room, there is an origami grasshopper on the floor in the middle of the room. Does Grum stop to check that out, or focus on the liquor cabinet?
DrK
As he crosses the floor, seeing the grasshopper he'll shakes his head.   "A rum thing aye..."   he mutters scoopping it up,   "A wee paper beastie"   he mentions offering it to one of the other to look at it before he continues on to the cabinet and the magical aura.
lostsole31
Jalanlagonis takes the strange folded paper insect.

Grum opens the liquor cabinet carefully while concentrating on the magical aura. The liquor cabinet contains six fine glasses engraved with a detailed image of a snail (they look expensive). There are cards and dice sufficient to form a gambler's kit and a deck of harrow cards. Tucked away in an ivory box is a deck of playing cards that possess a moderate aura of magic.

 Grum , what do you do?
DrK
Grum examines the magical cards seeing if there is anything obvious that they may do. Then he turns around and then offers it to the other two   "Cards, they be magic,"   he offers to the others,   "Any idea wat the be doing?"   he asks as he peers at them.  Glancing back at the cabinet he makes a jest,   "Nice glasses aye? Better if there be nice bottles."  .

If the others cannot identify the cards either he'll move through the room to the next door.
lostsole31
Nobody can even really see what's on the cards to tell anything, so the cards and bottles are put in Grum's bag for party treasure.

Grum opens the sliding door to the south. This elegant library is in shambles. Piles of shredded books are heaped untidily throughout the room. A small desk is scarred by deep grooves across its surface. Several large, umbrella-shaped masses of parchment and torn paper hang from the ceiling. Sliding double doors lead out of this room to the north and south, and a narrow glass door in the west wall leads to a small semicircular balcony. The glass of the door is badly cracked.
DrK
Pausing at the library door Grum shakes his head,   "I'm nae a big reader. But I dinnae like 'em that bad"   . he pauses at the door way and will carefully scan the library looking fo any threats and looking to his allies,   "Any thoughts folks?"  
lostsole31
  "It's not like my darkvision can read the pigments on paper,"   answer Jalanlagonis,   "and the light level is too low."  
lostsole31
Jalanlagonis slithers southwest into the room, towards the western door.  She isn't hustling or rushed, though all the books on the floor are difficult terrain.

Grum, what do you do/
DrK
Grum watches the room warily and then looks back and around for a platter or plate in the drawing room.  ”Eeh, lad. Grab a wee plate or platter and we can make a wee fire tae have a proper look”  he suggests as he will kneel by some nearby paper and scoop up some loose fragments and torn bits

As he does so he’ll look to the snake like figure,   “Owt there?”  
lostsole31
  "No way I'm leaving you!"   Evan says fearfully.   "I have a hard enough time seeing in the near-dark. I can barely make the two of you out. It's you moving around that helps."  

Jalanlagonis looks at Grum quizzically.   "Out there ... where? What?"  
DrK
Grum pauses as the pair of them stop.   "I were asking if there be anything there."   he clarifies to Jalangos before wandering back into the previous room and searching about the desks and cupboards for a plate, platter or tray of some kind that can be used as a platfom to build a small fire.
lostsole31
Grum will find a steel liquor tray. Where in the book room will he build the fire?
lostsole31
Evan creates a fire on the tray and takes it into the room. Upon seeing the fireplace to the east, he sets it in the fireplace and starts to feed the fire.

Unfortunately, the light and noise seems to bother the denizens of this room, and they buzz out angrily!

 Begin Round One ...

  R1T22:   Jalanlagnois gets into her crouch and snaps her tail into the mass of  flying, buzzing insects, killing a few but otherwise doing very little  before she backs away.

 R1T21:  Evan moves out into the northern room and concentrates, briefly bringing forth the protection he had before.

 R1T19:   The swarm flies over Grum and Jalan, covering them and moving partly into the northern room. Grum takes  8  from biting and stinging while Jalanlagonis takes  3 mod .

 R1T6:   Grum , roll two Fort saves. Assuming all goes well, what do you do?

Jalanlagonis on deck, Evan in the hole ...
DrK
 
 Spoiler: Fort saves 

 (1d20+7)[ 20 ] 
 (1d20+7)[ 20 ] 
+2 vs poison and +2 vs spells and SPA (and some other mind affecting bonuses that probably don't apply)
 


Grum looks about at the wasps rise, a barked   "Ahhh scum..."   he bellows as he steps out the swinging the blade like a giant bat trying to clear the space around of him of the swarming beasts

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


5ft step North out the swarm
Hit the swarm [risky attack]   (1d20+8)[ 22 ]  dam  (2d6+10)[ 15 ]  Str mod on a miss and cleave into next square for Str mod on a hit
 
lostsole31
 R1T6:  Grum looks about at the wasps rise, a barked   "Ahhh scum..."    he bellows as he steps out the swinging the blade like a giant bat  trying to clear the space around of him of the swarming beasts. The  sheer impact might kill a couple wasps, but mainly the blade seems  completely ineffective against the mass.

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T22:    "Everyone, run!"   says Jalanlagonis.   "I don't think any of usss can't fight them!"  

She then bolts as fast as she can away.

 R2T21:  Evan does what he's told and hustles out of the room as well.

 R2T19:   The wasp swarm continue to sting and bite Grum for  9 , finishing off the remainder of his akashic fortification and now wounding his already badly wounded body.

 R2T6:   Grum , roll two Fort saves. What do you do?
lostsole31
 R2T6:  Grum resists the urge to freak out and his  dwarven metabolism quashes any poison. Seeing nothing else he can do,  though, he moves out of the room and down the stairs.

 End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T22:  Jalanlagonis hustles down the stairs.

 R3T21:  Evan is at the bottom and moves out of south to the south.

 R3T19:   The wasps surround Grum, stinging him for  9 . As he goes unconscious  Grum falls down the stairs, cracking his head at the bottom for  12  ...  which is what kills him. The fall down the stairs.

 

Thank you for playing  Tyrant's Grasp , but with Grum's death, this is where we end. There will be no more updates on this channel at this point, and I am archiving my subscription to this game, so I likely would not see any updates you would make.