The Sign(for Zengar and Elvis)

[GronkTheBold]

"I do hope we escape this strange mausoleum soon enough, the smell off these corpses is disgusting!" Zengar will follow Elvis' path, holding his nose.

[Zhym]

Elvis turns to his traveling companion. "Lovely day for a stroll, isn't it? Except for the creepily-arranged corpses, I mean."

[tooleychris]

Another couple of minutes of walking.
You pass more stores in the same condition as the others and a couple more vegetation choked hulking metal monstrosities that were once rides.

sorry for delay guys. Trying to get others to catch up a bit as they fell behind when a player was out.

[tooleychris]

the path continues past a large roller coaster with black rails to the south and two larger buildings to the left and right.
Yet another corpse can be seen in your path to the north, much like the rest. Trash and leaves blow across the path.
Next to the corpse can be seen what looks like a rifle on the ground.

[Zhym]

A rifle might be worth getting near the creepy corpses. Maybe.

"What do you think?", Elvis asks Zengar in a low voice. "Should we risk venturing a bit closer to these things for for what looks like, uh, a 'staff of magic missiles?'"

Elvis will also listen for thoughts in the vicinity other than Zengar's.

[tooleychris]

The minimalistic "animal" thoughts are all you can sense.

[GronkTheBold]

Alerted to the presence of the "staff" by his companion, Zengar's eyes augment with a fanatical wanting, and he speaks quickly. "Yes, we most definitely need that staff. We need to create an armoury of arcane power against the darkness and also, owning a staff of power would add a bit of glamour for our magi circle that would do no harm in drawing others of our kind in. Tread carefully towards the artifact though, this place brings no comfort to the mind and is probably littered with traps."

[tooleychris]

As you get closer the corpse remains a motionless macabre statue. Ragged holes in his clothing reveals various states of decomposition.
The rifle, a projectile shooter, has a long yet thin barrel, with a worn wooden stock.
Examination or other actions?

[Zhym]

Elvis will look more closely at the rifle without touching it. If it doesn't seem to be rigged to anything and nothing else seems to be amiss, he will pick it up by the stock with his left hand, holding his sword at the ready with his right.

[tooleychris]

A closer examination reveals a thin piece of copper wire wrapped around the trigger guard. You can easily, now that you've spotted it, follow the wire running in an expansion crack to a store about 30' on the left. Just inside the door it run up the frame and attaches to a set of 2 bells. An alarm like the gate!

[Zhym]

Does the wire seem taught or loose? In other words, can Elvis tell if the wire is meant to ring the bells when it's pulled (as when someone picks up the rifle) or when it's loosened? Assuming the former, or if Elvis can't really tell, he'll carefully unwrap the wire from the trigger guard without pulling it. If that all works, he'll take the gun.

[tooleychris]

The wire is loose and you easily remove it without ringing the bell.
The rifle is a class 12 and does 2d6 damage (fires bullets )

[Zhym]

Elvis will open the chamber (and any other location where ammo might be loaded) to check for rounds. He'll give the weapon to Zengar. "Perhaps you should hold on to this. I already have a ranged weapon."

[tooleychris]

No ammo
character sheets updated

[Zhym]

Elvis will start off again to the north (or east, or whichever way we were heading...).

[GronkTheBold]

"Most excellent Elvis!" Zengar takes the gun with delicacy and reverence, before slinging it on his back for later use. "Onward to glory we go!" He will follow Elvis on the weathered and old path.

[tooleychris]

Your path continues north around several small buildings and vender stands. You pass yet another corpse along the way, and there is one more along your current path. Evading the rot has been simple enough so far. One of the venders to the far north catches your eye as the cart seems to be lined with curved swords hanging on a rack.
the arrow merely indicates your direction traveled

[GronkTheBold]

"Oh, look! Some extra arms for us, I think! If they are of Elven make I would not be surprised, the curved slender blades usually give it away..." Zengar creeps over to the vendor and takes a cautious look.

[tooleychris]

Strange blades indeed for they are plastic.

[GronkTheBold]

The fact that the blades are plastic poses no bother to the estranged wizard, who gingerly takes one, smilingly hands another to Elvis, and then continues on his way.