Barrowmaze: Repatriating the Red Lion of Aerik

[Cwreando]

Durgo

A seasoned adventurer does not risk moving into the room solo..Retreats back to the rest of the party, "I've spotted what might be a fined sword in a room to the south. If there is nothing here I would suggest we investigate the room more thoroughly with all of us. I saw more webbing as well. Likely the owner of the egg sacks here possibly. Safety in numbers and dwarven fortitude should help us gain access to the room."

Durgo waits to see what the others decide and continues to watch south from the alcove entrance.

[kwll]

Taking the hint, Genaromes approaches the entrance of the unexplored crypt. Then he gently puts Wincy down and whispers to him: "Scout ahead little weasel. And tell us what you see..." while pointing inside the room.

[Spearmint]

Wincy weasel sniffs the air and then slinks away from Genaromes, keeping to the crypt skirting and goes snooping about.

Opening with a creak inwards into a cross shaped room,

Creating an empathetic link, Genaromes can close his own eyes and concentrating, begin to see through the his kit's eyes and in a more superior and enhanced way, listen in to the almost inaudible to human ears, the sounds of water drops trickling from roof leaks, the echo of scuffed boots in the corridor, the quick scuttling of millipede legs as a tasty chitinous bug tries to scurry from the probing weasel snout. A bite, a crunch, a lick of the lips. You get to taste by proxy the creamy goo insectoid innards. The three small alcoves on the west, south and east of the room have a similar feature. As described, the walls are painted with a faded mural of a hooded wraith like figure, a plain grim reaper. But the paintings are merely decoration and not wardens, Wincy checks out the lower burial alcoves. One has square, another hexagonal and the third triangular alcoves. Inside are bones, burial linens, empty and cracked vases or jars. There are trinkets of painted stones, rusted metal, carved wood. Most have lain undisturbed for an age and grime and cobwebs overgrow them.

Wincy can climb into an alcove then dexterously flex himself to climb to the next shelf level, in and out to sniff and explore, knocking a bine out to clatter upon the floor here and there.

Heading towards the alcove with a glinting blade, he finds it to be a long dagger with a red sapphire gemstone in its hilt. It is set upon a mailed glove.

As he sniffs around it, you note the gem has a dull lustre but suddenly throbs with a pulse of light. Fearing your touch or interference has triggered some effect, Wincy is called back and exits, content to investigate the corridors if you wish.

Nothing stirs behind you though, the cross shaped crypt 'as silent as the grave'.

[BaltoBruiser]

Bhelnus

Whispering so as to not alert the residents behind the door at which Fydmar is listening: Should we determine who rests inside this crypt and rule out that this in not the Red Lion's resting place?

[Spearmint]

[Straither]

Wrathbone

Trusts the hearing instincts of Fydmar above his own, staying away from the second door while he listens in.

"Good work Genaromes, the weasel can be a great scout as long as he doesn't run in to trouble."

There is an obvious temptation for someone to walk into the cross shaped crypt and pick up the gauntlet and dagger. A throbbing gem though? Is that indicative of a reward or a curse, a risk or a reward?

He scratches his beard, "Anybody know about magic daggers or throbbing gems?"

He takes Wilson out of his satchel, lifting up the polished skull with the bloody hand print on it. He asks the skull, "Whaddya think big guy? Shall we go get it?" He mimics a conversation with the skull, debating the merits of exploring the crypt after Wincy seems to have given it the all clear from visible threats.

[kwll]

Before exploring further, Genaromes proposes to enter the crypt far enough to detect how potent the dagger's magic is and, if possible, what kind of power it holds.

[Spearmint]

Genaromes

Can cast a Detect Magic, the spell picking up a solitary aura from the dagger, specifically the pulsating gem, which with no physical presence interacting with it, now dulls once more. It has both a necrotic aura (though you should remember that this particular school of magic is not just focused on death as healing spells also originate in that sphere) and the dagger has another base enhancement, suggestive of Alteration which typically +1 weapons are altered to create more damage.

So you get a basic insight into any reward from taking the dagger but no indication of risk in attempting to do so. The dagger lies in the middle alcove, at mid height among the shelves. Which could prompt all sorts of ideas such as walking into the crosshairs of hidden traps in the east and west alcoves, trapdoors to unknown pits or spell triggered effects should an adventurer and not a weasel go inside. On the other hand, there might be no such dangers and you are just paranoid considering the eerie Barrowmaze effects encountered so far.

Fydmar can sneak and listen in at the next door.

Fydmar: Hear Noise: vs 10% [1d100]=22[1d100]=87[1d100]=36[1d100]=62[1d100]=85. Crypt group alerted vs 1 [1d6]=2

He can spend a number of minutes, taking his helm off and pressing ear to the door. But the door is swollen and damp which seems to muffle the sounds within from indistinct laughs and groans from the harsh voiced figures inside. A few of them, two at least maybe more, not of human or demi-human by the sound but hard to pinpoint exactly which race. A chair moves (from a under table?), steps, a growl and cry of pain, laughter, more bickering.

Wincy Hear Noise: vs 25% [1d100]=4

The weasel, sniffing at the door by his feet picks up slightly more. The sounds of something tumbling lightly upon the table. They play a dice game and 'they' number at least four figures.

You return to choose next actions.

[scottjen]

Fydmar
(quietly) I don't like that dagger. It just smells fishy being out in the open, yet none of the denizens here want it. Cursed, I'd say.
I think we should deal with those in the room. They will be trouble sooner or later, so lets do it on our terms. We don't know if there are other doors in that room, so what do you think of trying to drawn some of the "players" out?

[Straither]

Wrathbone

I have to admit, leaving the dagger makes sense. We saw what happened to Yngvar when he got tempted to gain knowledge from the Obelisk and was cursed to be feebleminded for it.

If we are to lure folk out, how do we do that. A simple knock on the door and run away. Hoping some come out to investigate and we ambush them. Best we attack from three sides then, the angled passage and from somewhere further west.

But then we don't want to spread too thin either. Unless we just bust the door down and catch whoever by surprise. (Does Bhelnus still have his hammer Knock power?).

I will support the decision chosen. I am okay with a surprise attack or luring some out or even bypassing the room while they are distracted.

[BaltoBruiser]

Bhelnus

The hammer should be reset since its last use (once per day and I believe at least one day has pasted since we last used it). Whispering again: I am good avoiding he dagger. We can use the hammer to open this door and then surprise the occupants.

[Cwreando]

Durgo

Durgo whispers, "If we can gain surprise bust it down and get us in the room to bash them and I'll get Rickford and Duvall down here first. If we can't get drop on them, I say draw them out Wrath, Fydmar and Rickford on the other side of the doorway, Duvall, myself and Bhel on this side and Gen and Bro Sym on the diaganol hallway flasknecking them 2 at the door at a time maybe. We don't know if there are others, they can alert from further on down any hallways west or northwest either."

"I can take cloth and grab the blade without touching skin perhaps to have it identified or examined to keep or destroy one done with this issue."

Drugo readies his shield sets the lantern down if its still in use and needed and draws his sword.

"Do we need intel?"

Once ready Durgo gives the signal to bust the door down or draw them out.

[kwll]

"You are right, we could take the dagger on our way out for further identification." answers Genaromes. Then he gets in position, asking no question.

[Straither]

Wrathbone

Unsheathes his halberd and his two throwing sidearms, a hammer and a hand axe. He intends to hurl them first then charge in with his main weapon.

He positions himself on the left side of the door frame. "Remember none sounded like humans or demi-humans, so probably goblins, orcs or troll-kin. Ghouls at worst. No quarter asked for, none given." He rallies others and justifies the coming combat, stomping silently through his Haka style war-dance to summon some ancestral bravery and honour.

[Spearmint]

Assaulting the Crypts

Going with the consensus, it seems you have chosen (for better or worse) to barge open the door, busting it with a powerful hammering backed up by the Knock effect of Bhelnus heirloom hammer. Then charge in to attack the four (+?) unknown figures in the room.

Going ahead, 'boom', the door is forcefully flung open, crashing against a wall. Four humanoid figures are in the room, hunched over a table set in the middle of another cross shaped room. A single firebrand torch in a wall sconce sheds flickering light upon them, showing they each have stone-gray faces and impish looks. One has a single unicorn type horn that grows from his forehead, another has curled ivory rams horns. They are rolling a cup of knucklebone dice and furiously shake a hand, similar to 'rock, paper, scissors', completing the last game gesture as you surprise them.

Each character can complete a normal missile/range attack or spell from the door threshold then close in for a melee attack. After those are resolved I will move to a normal encounter.

Attacks please.

[Straither]

Wrathbone

Hyped up and battle focussed, as soon as the door goes he leaps inside, hurling his hammer towards the figure seated on the most right, thumping him on his horny head hopefully with a crashing cranium blow (no Dex bonus for them being surprised or seated, I hope)

Wrathbone: hurls Throwing Hammer [1d20]=13 [1d4+1]=4+1=5

and then follows up with a slice of his sharp ax-bladed halberd. "Off with his head!" he shouts in hope.

Wrathbone: Halberd [1d20]=20 damage [1d10]=3

[scottjen]

Fydmar
Looses a (standard) X-bow bolt. x-bow [1d20+3]=14+3=17, damage [2d4]=5
Melee attack (dual wield): Greybeard's axe main hand [1d20]=3, damage [1d6]=3
short sword attack off hand[1d20-2]=2-2=0, damage vs S M [1d6]=5
He was somewhat reluctant apparently

[BaltoBruiser]

Bhelnus

After opening the door with his hammer, he takes aim at the closest of the humanoids:



We will then charge at the same humanoid using Assegai (apparently he too was reluctant) and knocking off balance with his shield:

[kwll]

Genaromes concentrates, then motions his hands to release arcane energy on the impish creatures, ordering them to fall asleep.

Casts Sleep on the creatures in the room. Since I don't know their hit dice, I will let the DM roll the dice.

[Cwreando]

Durgo

Drugo using his height advantage gets his bow ready.

First arrow he lets loose:

Second arrow attempt:

Drops his bow and gets his sword and shield to attack:

Shield bash attempt:

Longsword attempt: