The Unseen Servant forums

Sir Dewey

The Knight swings...Flail: [1d20+1]=4+1=5

and misses. You know, I'm starting to think this is retribution for me playing a paladin.

Barrow Moor, Duchy of Aerik.

Barrow Mounds.
May 26th 1066.

The ritual room encounter ends in a fiery and dramatic finale. Summoning another baptism of fire, Sundance casts another Magic Missile that immolates the Sauron wraith's head, Vann Hector stabs into its back with a three foot tongue of icy cold iron. -7hp.

It is enough to dissipate the summoned ghost into a cloud of ectoplasm and shadow. All is silent as the Chant bringing him forth and holding him in place abruptly stops. The Sauron priest whose last living action was to offer his blood as an extra seal upon the portal is no more and his covenant broken. For weal or woe, the group can advance to the bronze doors. Cosmo, clutches his bone mage hand; his Hand of Hoodoo that once before opened a sealed portal held by arcane covenant, offering it out as a possible key. Maybe its magic trait to invoke a Knock spell more powerfully will also work here?

I imagine the hand, when placed over the door at the Academy, acted like Ali Baba speaking 'open sesame' to the cave of the forty thieves.

actions, Sigrid, Moorheeth, Sir Dewey, Cosmo, Vann Hector. agree on a majority plan. Try to open the door using Hoodoo now, spend another day restoring spells and healing, give orders to the conscripts. I will update as the majority post a group action.

Vann Hector

I think pressing on straight away is good otherwise we lose momentum. Though if the spell casters can take a couple of hours to renew erased spells, that might prove a with while delay.

If Cosmo doesn't want to handle the Hand, I am fine with seeing if it unlocks the held portal.

I that doesn't work, short of waking the dead to let them in, I might be out of ideas. I noted that Bharazd'had said the doors were made using dragon scales, in this case, those of a bronze dragon. While any spell study is done, I will ask the Soothsayer a little more about ancient dragons and these other dragon-scale doors.

Just have a health check too, what state are we in?

Moorheeth

Moorheeth comes up to where Vann and Sir Dewey are talking. I do have healing magic prepared if needed.

While Moorheeth is unscathed physically, the dungeon has been wearing at him mentally, but he is still determined to go on if that is the decision of the group.

Sir Dewey

He quickly looks around as the specter vanishes. "Everyone ok? Nice work then." The Knight winks at Vann Hector. "I'll get the next one."

"If the casters are ok with it, I suggest pushing forward. Trying that hand, or whatever else we can to open this door. We should prepare to launch missile strikes when it's open and keep it from escaping."

Sir Dewey motions for the conscripts and anyone not intimately involved with the opening to prepare ranged attacks and form a defensive blockade. "Maybe we can use those barrels we found or the fallen statues."

Sigrid

"Well done all!," the northern mage calls out, trying to keep a cheery face on things, lest the wariness of this place overwhelm them. "I agree with the masterful Sir Dewey, who surely must have been a Sverð-Freyr in a past life. We press on while All-Father still blesses us. And battle on, until the last of our foes are fallen!" Then she turns to Vann, "You sir, are the very complement to Sir Dewey! Letting him distract the ghost, while you cunningly carved your name on his dead backside." She pounds her staff on the ground with one hand, and the other hand on her hip, "We shall cut this blossom off at its stem." Sigrid the Seidr playing the party Skald.

Moorheeth

Seeing the determination of the team and temporarily bolstered by Sigrids rousing speech, Moorheeth suggests, so is our next step trying other entry methods?
What options do we have? Should we try this hand?

Barrow Moor, Duchy of Aerik.

Barrow Mounds.
May 26th 1066.

After breaking the blood covenant of the Sauron priest, the intrepid group approach the bronzed doors and in faith as much as hope, place Cosmo's arcane key, the Hand of Hoodoo upon the portals sigils. There is intrinsic magic contained in both, the intricate runes and etchings of the Black Legion skull and crossed roses and imbued dispelling power enchanted with the bones of an ancient mage.

With a creak unheard for centuries from long rusted hinges, a billowing of dust and a chill air, those crafted doors of dragon scales open as wings might upon unfurling for flight.

The doors are opened.

and over coffee and some house keeping, I will edit this and update here over the next couple of hours. Sorry for delay in posting to your thread.

The Tomb of Magyar Varghoulis.

"Magyar Varghoulis, Lord Myrmidon of Nergal's Chosen. Champion of the Black Legion, he was slain at the cost of many valiant hearts, whose blood poured out in earnest sacrifice mortars the very tomb stones in place. As Nergal awakens, so too his devotees. To wage havoc among the living and the dead. Varghoulis rests beyond with the most trusted of his host."

Words from the deceased spirit to refresh your memory for each step over the threshold of the crypt is a step into the unknown though forwarded of some of the dangers. The doors open to an arched room, perhaps thirty feet wide and twice that long. Pillars with ghoulish bas-relief figures, elongated and alien form an aisle, at the bottom of which a statue of bronze holds high a radiant shield, the light from which dazzles with a brilliance that actually inspires hope in an otherwise dark and morbid place. Beyond the statue some stairs descend. A rot and decay of ancient bones and restless souls permeates the atmosphere. You are not alone. Shadows move in the room corners, disturbed by your egress and intrusion, awakening to the grinding portal opening. You each stare in awe at the crypt then bravely enter, having come thus far, not to turn back now.

I loved this fantasy crypt pic and include it here:



and loved this pic too and include them as some welcoming committee of the 'trusted host'.



Actions please.

Vann Hector

"Death certainly blossoms in this place!" he exclaims, flashing his blade wide of any of those demonic looking ghouls.

"Stay close, don't let them touch you." he says, stating the obvious.

The Knight winks at Vann Hector. "I'll get the next one."

"This one is yours then."

The shield? It looks enchanted, there is no natural light. A holy shield? He is reminded that Osen told him about a Knight's shield that was buried in a tomb. Could this be it?

Vann Hector's: Crypt Knight's longsword melee vs s/m [1d20+2]=2+2=4 [1d8+1]=2+1=3

Sigrid

At the sight of the undead creatures, Sigrid exclaims, "Draugr!" She immediately begins to move her hands as if weaving thread, as she intones, "Svipta.", and a magically glowing arrow appears beside her. She points at the closest of the undead and sends the arrow in its direction.

To retain the Magic Missile spell vs. Intelligence (14) [4d6+1]=16+1=17

Spell Damage: [1d4+1]=3+1=4

Moorheeth

Clutching his holy symbol, and staff he shadows the others as they enter prepared to turn undead if the shadows leap forward to attack!!!


Edit - adding roll
Turn undead [1d20]=12

Cosmo

clutches his magic miner's pick in trepidation.

Sir Dewey

He keeps his shield high, stepping forward carefully into the crypt. The light can play tricks on people, and he finds himself prepared to swing at more than one pillar.

The Knight's eyes are drawn to the radiant shield, and he nods at the others to move that way. "What?! I don't see anything." He calls to Sigrid and Moorheeth. Sir Dewey turns to follow their eyes and prepares for combat.

The Tomb of Magyar Varghoulis.

Sigrid identifies the walking dead, crypt things that live a rotting existence, not truly alive but not truly dead. She tries to help one in his way to eternal rest, -4hp. Follow up attacks by Vann Hector and a quartet of the guards reap little reward. -7hp. Sundance invokes a memorized spell of her own, adding magical flaming tongues of fire to burn upon the head of a chosen victim. -5hp

Moorheeth invokes the commands of Arcantryl but these creatures adhere to other voices, entombed at the time of the Angarach and give no heed to his New Faith proclamation.

Three of the ghouls approach to attack. They wear animalistic skulls and have long clawed hands, razor sharp and dripping with an oily venom. The elf, a guard and the cleric are injured. His elven blood runs free but is immune to the necrotic touch. Unlike his comrades who take a minimal injury but must save against the paralysing touch.

Cosmo, Sir Dewey & Bharazd'had guard themselves back to back, approaching the radiant shield, looking for more of the ghoulish figures to emerge from behind the pillars. One interposes itself between them and the shield though once it comes within the radiant aura it visible cowers and turns away from the dazzling light.
Sundance casts Tongues of Fire [1d4+1]=4+1=5 Spell memory save vs 16 [4d6+1]=16+1=17Ghoul vs Vann Hector: claw, claw, bite [1d20]=2 [1d20]=11 [1d20]=4Ghoul vs guard claw, claw, bite [1d20]=16 [1d20]=9 [1d20]=1Ghoul vs Moorheeth claw, claw, bite [1d20]=8 [1d20]=19 [1d20]=8Ghoul claw damage upon: Vann Hector, Guard, Moorheeth [1d3]=2[1d3]=1[1d3]=1[/spoiler]

Vann Hector -2hp
Guard -1hp, save vs paralysis.
Moorheeth -1hp, save vs paralysis.

next actions please.

Moorheeth

Saving throw: [1d20]=4

Moorheeth was planning to attack with his staff since his attempt to turn failed, but that appears moot

Sigrid

Sigrid curses as she looses her spell. She exclaims, "Skjǫldr," casting shield upon herself as she readies her staff to fend off any attacks.

Sir Dewey

"To the light!" He exclaims while pushing forward towards the radiant shield, trying to arrange a formation. "Gather at the shield!"

The Knight advances to the shield, striking the ghoul that foolishly interposed itself and entered the light.

Flail: [1d20+1]=20+1=21
Flail Damage: [_2d4+2]=(4+3)=7+2=9 L:[1d6+2]=1+2=3

Cosmo

shakily lashes out at the gruesome poor-excuse-for-a being:

Magic miner's pick: to hit [1d20+1]=4+1=5, DMG S/M [1d6+2]=3+2=5 L [2d4+1]=7+1=8