Ch. 2: Highway to Hell?

[Inferno]

The Unseen Servant:

The humble master returns to the chamber of boats and bones. He slowly walks around the macabre pyramid, quietly observing it and the room.

[GreyWolfVT]

Odilo follows the humble master having been somewhat self-embarrassed and "humbled" by his own lack of preparedness, also observes the row boat room. Looking around for buttons or levers that might activate something to raise or lower the boats.

[Scott308]

Risdac Egargi

The giant mage accompanies Odilo and the monk to the boatroom.

[ravenn4544]

Malibran follows the group.

[Zhym]

You return to the starboard boat room, where two large rowboats each stand atop a three-tiered pyramid of skeletons, about 20 feet high. The rowboats are about 10 feet long and have four oars each.

Odilo looks for levers or buttons but finds none.

-----
Status: Malibran (H LG C20[13](Pholtus)): 90/90; Khogeki (H LN M17): 78/78; Odilo (1/2E NG MU17): 54/54; Xale (D NG C14[9](Dalt)/F13): 75/75; Risdac (Giant NG MU17): 52/58; Tanner (H CG F19): 107/107; Rool (H LN T20): 85/85; Hallagad (H LG P15(Pelor)): 93/93
Effects: None
Light Sources: Continual light coin (Rool); Levitate (Odilo): canceled.

[Urson]

Tanner
Having found no walkways hidden in the water, he returns to the boat storage room with the others. Without touching them, he examines the skeletons from close range- nearly brushing the bones with the tip of his nose.
Are they actual skeletons, or some sort of sculpture? If they're sculpture, what are they made from? How are the bones held together?

[Zhym]

The skeletons appear to be actual skeletons.

Did one of them just move?

[GreyWolfVT]

Odilo tries something strange and tries talking to a skeleton "Hello skeleton might we barrow one of the boats you and your friends are holding up?" he asks and steps back to the doorway.

[Inferno]

The Unseen Servant:

The humble monk quietly awaits the cadaver's reply.

[Zhym]

Odilo the Reborn, formerly known as the Strange, tries something strange. "Hello skeleton, might we borrow one of the boats you and your friends are holding up?" he asks.

The skeleton does not reply.

[GreyWolfVT]

Odilo shrugs and says aloud "It was worth a try."

[Norjax]

Rool Diov

Rool goes to the snake sculpture in the starboard room and speaks into its mouth. “We wish to disembark this vessel. May we borrow a boat from the dead and use it to traverse the waters in the chambers forward of this position?”

[Zhym]

Rool speaks into the snake, asking nicely if they might borrow the boats, pretty please.

There is no response.

Is that the sound of laughter in the distance, or just the creaking of timbers?

-----
Status: Malibran (H LG C20[13](Pholtus)): 90/90; Khogeki (H LN M17): 78/78; Odilo (1/2E NG MU17): 54/54; Xale (D NG C14[9](Dalt)/F13): 75/75; Risdac (Giant NG MU17): 52/58; Tanner (H CG F19): 107/107; Rool (H LN T20): 85/85; Hallagad (H LG P15(Pelor)): 93/93
Effects: None
Light Sources: Continual light coin (Rool)

[GreyWolfVT]

Odilo walks closer to one of the skeletons and pokes it with his staff.

[Norjax]

Rool Diov

Rool moves to the 4-way intersection between the skeleton rooms and tries to determine if the sounds are coming from above or in their current level; aft, port, starboard or forward.

[AleBelly]

If nothing happens when Odilo pokes a skeleton with his staff, Hallagad will climb the skeleton pyramid and push the boat down the other end.

[Urson]

Tanner

Having been ready to start breaking skeletons, Tanner pauses while Hallagad starts climbing. If things go pear-shaped, he'll step in, smashing skeletons as needed.

[Inferno]

The Unseen Servant:

The humble sensei joins Tanner, standing at the ready to aid the paladin if the desiccated corpses suddenly spring to life.

"Malibran," he says softly.

[ravenn4544]

Malibran nods appreciatively to the Unseen Servant as the party investigates the boats and mysterious skeleton structure, "I stand ready, Master Shadow"

[Zhym]

Rool rushes back to the intersection, taking the light coin with him. By the time he reaches the hall, the laughter-like sound is gone. The only sounds he hears are churning, lapping water from forward.

Meanwhile, in the room with the skeleton pyramids, Odilo pokes a skeleton. As the room falls into darkness, he sees the skeleton's upraised arms twitch. The skeleton standing on top of it totters. The one it was holding up loses its footing—and its grip on the boat—and falls pelvis over patella into the skeletons beneath it. The entire pyramid collapses, skeletons and boat crashing to the stone floor in a clatter of bone and splintering wood as the last of Rool's light fades. For a moment, there is silence. Then you hear the sound of dozens of bones, clicking together.

-----
Status: Malibran (H LG C20[13](Pholtus)): 90/90; Khogeki (H LN M17): 78/78; Odilo (1/2E NG MU17): 54/54; Xale (D NG C14[9](Dalt)/F13): 75/75; Risdac (Giant NG MU17): 52/58; Tanner (H CG F19): 107/107; Rool (H LN T20): 85/85; Hallagad (H LG P15(Pelor)): 93/93
Effects: None
Light Sources: Continual light coin (Rool)