Chapter I: So, you all meet up in a tavern

[sirravd]

Endor searches as thoroughly as he can, but sees no hidden mechanism. The skeletons do not stir.

[Lance]

Endor searches as thoroughly as he can, but sees no hidden mechanism. The skeletons do not stir.

"It should be clear." Endor says with confidence. "Order of business?" He looks around to see what the others think of grave robbing before digging in.

[Bluetongue]

Harker

With the skeletons presenting no immediate threat, he steps forward to investigate the sealed pots, lifting them. "Any experts in pottery? Maybe the decorated ones would look good in some Lordships villa. Might be worth a few gold if we can get them back without cracking them. Wrap them in the burial shrouds to cushion them."

Checking the sealed vases, unless he sees any obvious strange runes or symbols etched in the wax or clay which might deter him, he will chance popping a seal.

[StevetheNPC]

Harker
"Any experts in pottery?

Filbert quickly shakes his head to respond "No", stows his short sword in it's scabbard, and then kneels down to begin the grim task of removing the burial shrouds from the two skeletons, taking care to try to not damage the bones as he does so. As he removes them he is takes note of the shrouds, looking for any markings or patterns that might strike him as being useful information about the inhabitants of this mound.

Assuming he removes them without incident, he hands the shrouds to Harker or whomever volunteers to wrap up the pottery pieces and then says, "Should we try to lift these two slabs and check underneath? Maybe that's where all of the gold and riches are hiding!"

[sirravd]

The pots are reasonable well-made, but workmanlike. They have no runes or anything of the sort. When the seals are broken, it becomes clear that each contains 25 gp.

The amphorae look quite valuable, but also brittle.

The shrouds are removed without incident, revealing nothing else of interest.

[Bree-yark]

I agree with Filbert. Let's see if we can lift those slabs.

[Lance]

The amphorae look quite valuable, but also brittle.

Endor points at the amphorae "These ones wouldn't survive any trouble, I say we leave them here in a safe place if we are to visit some other resting place. We can pick them up on our way back." He will aid in the collection of loot.

[Stirling]

Vann Hector

Continues a turn on guard outside the mouth of the tomb with the torch bearer, thief and the mule and mastiff.

[StevetheNPC]

Filbert kneels down next to one of the slabs, chosen at random, tries to wedge his tiny halfling hands under the stone, and makes a show of grunting, groaning and breathing heavily as he "attempts" to lift the slab unaided. "Whew!" he exclaims while wiping the pretend sweat from his brow, "I don't think I'm quite strong enough. I think I should leave this one to you big and tall folks."

[Lance]

"I don't think I'm quite strong enough. I think I should leave this one to you big and tall folks."

"What he said" Endor adds with a grin. He will stay back as far as possible, so he can use his crossbow if trouble "arises".

edit: typo

[Bree-yark]

Jacor puts his sword away and walks over to the slab.

If somebody want to get ready to stab anything coming out from underneath, I'll see if I can lift it.

[Bluetongue]

Harker

Puts his back into slab shifting as well.

With the 50gp. I would like to do this first. Each person who put coins into the team kitty get repaid in full, wether 18gp or 3gp. The balance is added to the pool. (I will edit the treasure balance so the hired thief of Osen only takes the right %).

He hands the jars over to Brother Blaive for safekeeping. The amphora get wrapped and stuffed with cloth and taken to the mule chests or dog sled.

[sirravd]

The slab does not initially shift.

Character with the highest strength, roll an "extraordinary feat" percentile roll as per AD&D PHB. Add +4% for the others.

[Bluetongue]

Harker I think has the highest strength.

Strength roll % [1d100+4] = 35+4 = 39

[sirravd]

You should have subtracted 4, oops. If you did you result would of course have been 31. In any event you would have failed.

Harker tries, but is unable to move the slab.

[Bree-yark]

Jacor

It looks like brute strength won't work here. Any ideas on how we can move these slabs? Would our picks be effective against it?

[Stirling]

Vann Hector

"What are we expecting to find under the stone slabs? I have an idea which might save a lot of effort."

I am guessing that folk hope to move the slabs sufficiently enough to expose a trap door, stairwell or another entrance to crypts abd cisterns below. If nothing is there except a stone floor we waste time and effort. So the elf uses his brain not brawn and opens a couple of flasks of oil, pouring them around the edges of the two slabs. If there is any entrance the pools of oil would drain away, down some steps or drip through a hole. If nothing then we have a sign no further exploration is needed here.

This mound could be a fine camp for tonight, weatherproof and easily defended by the way.

He pours the oil and waits for the results.

[Lance]

This mound could be a fine camp for tonight, weatherproof and easily defended by the way.

"Easy to defend, difficult to escape. We could be easily overwhelmed by whatever the locals fear at night." Endor points out.

Sorry if I seem not very useful, but Endor is a spoon in this drawer of sharp knives.

[Bluetongue]

Harker

The oils a good idea. If it leaks away quickly then we could try looping a rope and grapnel around a slab and tying one end to the pony (or mule, sorry forgot what Mal has). Then all pull together.

If nothing we move to another mound.

[StevetheNPC]

Filbert Brushhollow

"Hey, Endor, did 'ya get a look at these walls yet?" As the others attempt to determine if there is something under the slabs, Filbert's halfling curiosity gets the better of him as he wanders around the small interior of the barrow, looking for anything obviously secret or hidden in the walls or the floors.

OOC: Did we descend down any steps or a ramp when we entered the barrow? Are we partially or wholly underground? What are the interior walls made of? Dirt, rough stone, worked stone, etc?