The Bathhouse

[Tell]

Lesh quickly makes some gestures casting Shield of Faith on Ambergris and False Life on himself.

A shimmering field appears and surrounds a creature of your choice within range, granting it a +2 bonus to AC for the duration.
False Life: [1d4+4]=1+4=5

[Belkregos]

thinking there's no imminent danger Tommy starts to head back wondering what is delaying his companions
he starts to walk back bringing the unseen servant some distance behind him just in case

[hedgeknight]

Run Away! Run Away!

While Tommy is wondering what is keeping his companions, Ambergris is trying to go gentle into that good night...and the pain in his shoulder is not gentle by any means! As the aging sea dog tries to get away, the ghostly axe hacks yet again into his back, knocking the breath out of him, but propelling him forward.


Ambergris tries to defend himself with a ghostly hand of his own, invoking a chilling touch on the axe. The spell seems to have no effect on the axe, so he moves toward the door as fast as he can in two feet of water. Churning along in front of him is Lesh, who summons divine magic upon both he (False Life) and Ambergris (Shield of Faith).

Both make it to the entrance to the crypt and the axe follows...hovering just inside the room, waiting perhaps to see if the pair are foolish enough to reenter.
Tommy finds them standing outside the chamber. His sharp senses can smell Ambergris' blood which is dripping into the murky water...

[Spearmint]

Ambergris

Close to collapse. I must be on minimal hp again.

[hedgeknight]

He's down 12.

[Belkregos]

there you are tommy says with a sense of relief seeing his companions and notices the fresh wound he moves his head to peer behind them trying to see if any enemies are following them but not finding any he continues
you took care of the bitch then, i didn't go far, just down the hallway to the next room but i didnt find her he nods and gestures to the hallway he came from
the cellar continues, didnt see any other guards or necromancers
there's another altar on a pile of bones though
he starts to walk back to continue exploring where he left off (same process, unseen servant ahead)

[Tell]

Lesh stoops beside Ambergris casting Healing Word.
Healing Word: [2d4+5]=5+5=10

[Spearmint]

Ambergris

Wonders why these crazy folk do their rituals in such dark, damp places. Don't they have a masonic lodge of their own?

Another altar. What could possibly go wrong examining that?

He stays well clear, thanking Lesh for his providence.

[hedgeknight]

Lesh breathes a word of healing and Ambergris feels much better (10 hp; only down 2 hp). Tommy leads the trio back to where he turned around and shows them the altar with bones in the distance. The unseen servant floats around the altar, but nothing happens.
Actions? You are about thirty feet from the entrance to the altar chamber.

[Belkregos]

the unseen servant starts to move towards the center of the room while Tommy advances, moving close to the wall he turns the corner quietly stepping in to the room

Stealth: [1d20+5]=15+5=20

[hedgeknight]

This dry, partially collapsed room contains a stone altar with humanoid skulls and bones piled around it. The top of the altar is covered with dozens of half-melted candles made of black wax, all currently unlit.

[Spearmint]

Ambergris

"Curiosity never killed the cat, cus' he's still here." he jests pointing to Tommy the Tabaxi. "Perhaps it will kill the sea-dog though.". He says hoping that many a jest does not actually ring true either.

He will go check out the skulls trying to see if there is rhyme or reason to their selection or indeed he concludes they are just random bones of death's victims. Do any of the skulls have candles in or in? Like they are used as candle holders. if he finds a jaw has a gold tooth he might just hook it out.

Do any candles smoulder? Indicating they were lit recently? He lights one and checks out the stone altar looking for any features on that such as hidden niches, push/pull buttons.

Ambergris: proficiency with Investigations [1d20+2]=1+2=3



"ooh. Nothing to see here.".

I will step aside and let the more astute take a look.

[Belkregos]

Tommy moves towards the stairs, talking the rout that keeps the longest distance between him and the altar
as he sees Ambergris go straight for the pile of bones and rummage through it he looks to the unseen servant well Mr.McCoy, looks like someone is trying to help you here and mentally instructs the unseen servant to move some pieces as he looks carefully for any reactions from afar

Investigation: [1d20+3]=19+3=22

[Tell]

Lesh quietly studies the pile of skulls looking for any commonalities between races, sexes, or general healthiness. He murmurs a brief prayer to the Lord of the Dead on their behalf.

Preception: [1d20+5]=7+5=12

[hedgeknight]

Hoping for luck and good fortune, Ambergris enters the cavern and walks up to the altar. Bones and skulls lie all around it and the candles on top are unlit...and do not appear to have been aflame any time soon. The skulls are empty and it is quite dark except for the lantern from "McCoy" the unseen servant.
Tommy creeps into the room, staying as far away from the altar as possible.
Lesh moves in behind Ambergris and studies the skulls, while offering a prayer for the dead. The skulls look pretty much the same; mostly human with an occasional demi-human amongst them.

Ambergris lights one of the candles and it gives off a greenish glow, revealing writing on the walls. The words look to have been written with charcoal or some other black substance, and they read, in the common tongue,
"RISE AND BE COUNTED!"

[Belkregos]

Tommy starts o move down the stars keeping an eye on his friends he makes sure not to move beyond line of sight from them
he establishes mental communication with them in case they are separated or anything happens
McCoy stays behind with the rest of his companions


Telepathic Speech

1st-level Aberrant Mind sorcerer feature

You can form a telepathic connection between your mind and the mind of another. As a bonus action, choose one creature you can see within 30 feet of you. You and the chosen creature can speak telepathically with each other while the two of you are within a number of miles of each other equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1 mile). To understand each other, you each must speak mentally in a language the other knows.

The telepathic connection lasts for a number of minutes equal to your sorcerer level. It ends early if you are incapacitated or die or if you use this ability to form a connection with a different creature

[Tell]

Lesh turns and follows Tommy...

[Spearmint]

Ambergris

Maybe we need to brighten the place. When he and Lesh moves the skulls and nothing happens, he will melt a few more candles and stick them on top of the skulls.

It gives Tommy time to sneak ahead and scout about. He will go study the charcoal words, holding a skull in his hand, talking to it and manipulating the jaw.

"Alas poor Yorrick, I knew him well. A man of many jests. So why didn't you go to the dance?"

"I had no body to go with."

"What's your favourite thing to eat?

"Spare ribs."

"You want to tell me about Myrkul's plans? Share a few secrets. Rise up and be counted for the good people of Baldur's Gate. Redeem your soul? Tell me where the gold is hidden? Help the Cat and Lizard and pirate to stop these cultists who killed you?"

He waits for the mental affirmative from Tommy to follow.


As long as it doesn't suddenly threaten, "I'll kill you."
Inspired by:
https://youtu.be/GBvfiCdk-jc

[hedgeknight]

Tommy descends the stairs and sends McCoy on ahead, noting an area similar to others, having the floors covered in murky water.
Lesh follows the tabaxi and as he descends the stairs, he hears Ambergris talking to...himself?

"Alas poor Yorrick, I knew him well. A man of many jests. So why didn't you go to the dance?"
"I had no body to go with."
"What's your favourite thing to eat?
"Spare ribs."
"You want to tell me about Myrkul's plans? Share a few secrets. Rise up and be counted for the good people of Baldur's Gate. Redeem your soul? Tell me where the gold is hidden? Help the Cat and Lizard and pirate to stop these cultists who killed you?"

Suddenly, the rubble at the north end of the chamber begins to shift as bones rise up from the rocks and knit themselves together, forming three skeletons! The creatures walk toward Ambergris and stop...seemingly waiting for...some command.

Altar Call 1.png (979.67 KiB) Viewed 354 times

[Tell]

Seeing undead Lesh starts to turn back raising his weapon...