Expedition: Fingers/Ghostly Trial - Part II - 23 July 2021

[Marullus]

Markd holds the lantern while Fingers undertakes the meticulous process of checking first one door and then the other for traps and then carefully trying to pick one lock with his tools, then the other.

Regrettably, both locks are too stubborn or difficult for him at this time and neither lock yields.


Date: 12:20pm, 24 July 2021
Light: Markd's lantern (until 12:30pm)
Effects: None
Injuries: None

[Zhym]

Fingers shrugs and walks back to the big room. He inspects the next door clockwise from the hall he just left.

[Alethan]

Bandy gives both doors the evil eye, then follows Fingers...

"Maybe we'll find a key or something somewhere..."

[Marullus]

Fingers follows the wall clockwise again, reaching the two doors in the middle of the north wall, amidst the undisturbed coffers. Markd refills his lantern and holds it, Fingers again checking the doors and then working the locks. The left hand door proves too difficult, bit with his careful effort, the right door lock snaps open.

Someone mark off oil to refill Markd's lantern.

Date: 1:20pm, 24 July 2021
Light: Markd's lantern (until 4:30pm)
Effects: None
Injuries: None

[onlyme]

oil pint deducted.
Markd awaits to see what they find.

[Alethan]

Bandy readies himself for when the door is opened...

[Zhym]

Fingers steps back, preferably behind someone, and lets someone else do the door-opening honors.

[Alethan]

Bandy shrugs and opens the door.

"First in, first to spoils, my pappy always said..."

Before entering the room, however, Bandy waits for Markd's light to move forward and he checks the ceiling to make sure nothing is lurking above. Then he cautiously enters the room, looking first for any sign of hostility.

[DavetheLost]

Hengist stands ready for whatever may be on the other side of the door, shield and holy symbol at the ready.

[Marullus]

Bandy pushes open the door, Markd holds his lantern forward to illuminate the room. The room is richly appointed, the dull glint of tarnished silver visible displayed throughout the room. It is a family burial chamber, six coffins visible within. The walls are covered with writing, not as many symbols, and there are epitaphs on each coffin. A translucent figure in well-appointed robes stands near the middle of the room with his back to you - through his torso, you can see that he is polishing silver.

Date: 1:30pm, 24 July 2021
Light: Markd's lantern (until 4:30pm)
Effects: None
Injuries: None

[Alethan]

Bandy steps aside, allowing others to enter the room behind him.

"Oh, I hope this is a nice ghost..." you can almost hear him whisper to himself.

[onlyme]

Markd looks around to see if he can identify any writings or other markings that he may recognize from his readings.

[Marullus]

Markd thinks it looks like the same language, but he'd have to get much closer and spend more time to read it.

[Alethan]

"What's it say, Markd?" Bandy asks curiously, wishing for once that he could read better.

While Markd tries to suss out the writings, Bandy takes better inventory of the contents of the room - items that might be stacked on or near caskets or tables, if there are any drawers where things might be found, etc.

[Zhym]

Fingers pauses near the door, waiting to find out whether the ghost is friendly before entering.

[onlyme]

Markd will move closer, attempting to study without being aggressive about it.

[DavetheLost]

Hengist will lower his holy symbol and step into the room. He looks around to better see its contents.

[Marullus]

Fingers, Sprinkles, and Allmond wait at the doorway while Markd enters with his lantern to look at the writing. Hengist enters with him, as does Bandy, who desires a closer look at the family crypt's gravegoods.

Markd is able to easily determine that this tomb is part of the Clelland Family vault; the coffins contain epitaphs of various family members which could be read more closely with more time. A glance at the walls reveals that they are a historical record, beginning with the ennobling of Kelyr, Steward to King Farthegn.

Bandy's eyes boggle at the wealth displayed, undisturbed, around the room. Shelves and display pillars around the room hold items of precious metals - mostly tarnished silver with a slightly smaller amount of green-patina copper and a small amount of golden items, each raised and displayed more prominently. All together is likely more than two draft-wagons could carry. Six coffins are arranged in the room, each aligned with a distinctive portion of the grave goods. Two of the coffins bear a knight's sigil: one has a shield and longsword laid atop it, the other has a two-handed sword. You also see a massive set of shelves on the east wall, filled with bound book volumes and cracked leather scroll cases.

Your initial appraisal is brief, however, as the spectral figure turns now to face you. He translucent wears ministerial robes and has a natural air of authority. It is clear that he is angered, and quite hostile, to your intrusion. He moves towards you, his feet leaving no disturbance in the dust, and is threatening you and motioning for you to leave.

Markd:

"How dare you disturb my family! These chambers are for us! Us alone! None have rights to enter the Clelland Tombs without permission! Get out! GET OUT!!!"

Date: 1:40pm, 24 July 2021
Light: Markd's lantern (until 4:30pm)
Effects: None
Injuries: None

[onlyme]

Obviously Markd can't negotiate with the ghost... does him translating (if he even can) count against his charisma or the PCs who is doing the original talking?

[Marullus]

Markd can understand but not speak the language.
If someone is going to try and negotiate with the angry ghost, role-play base concepts in Lawful and they can roll [5d6] against Charisma. Markd doesn't hinder them.