Barrow Mounds: Hallowed Ground expedition

[Spearmint]

May 8th 1066:

Barrow Moor, south of Helix, Duchy of Aerik.

1.50pm. Windy conditions, light rain.
Light: visibility limited to 60'ft through thick mist.
Lantern (Reuben)
Vann Hector -4hp, Tamson -2hp, Reuben -2hp.
Effects: none.

Reacting to the events, the quartet rig themselves with sack masks to cover nose and mouths before rushing it to grab the fallen pair. Vann Hector staggers before he succumbs to the poison effect and lashes out at the alcove of strange weed, pushing his flaming firebrand into the cloud of spores. The cloud erupts in sparkles of flame, twinkling in the passage like embers from a firework. The sweet heady scent replaced by a burning ash.

Dalin and Eldon run in grabbing legs, the unconscious pair are dragged unceremoniously out of the passage and propped against a wall. Tamson wipes them down with a rag and pours a hefty swig of water to clear spores from their throats and mouths.

Within a few moments the pair recover from the enforced fainting. They are otherwise uninjured.

Savant who covered the rescue with his drawn bow finds that the passage opens into a octagonal domed chamber, about 30'ft across. In the centre of the room is a raised dias with a stone coffin. Around the room, each facet wall has shelves of earthenware jars of many different shapes, designs and sizes.

actions please

[Stirling]

Vann Hector

The elf is happy to clear his throat and mind.

"What was that? Some kind of algae or weed that spread a debilitating spore cloud. Then what? Feed on our juices or implant us with insidious venom and turn us into shambling moulds?

It seems as though the fire did for it."

I will strike another flaming torch as I probably dropped the last one. "Shall we try again?", he suggests, pointing up the dark passage and entering to explore beyond.

[GreyWolfVT]

Dalin nods his head "Might want a face covering first." he says through his makeshift face covering with a bit of a muffle.

[LordKane77]

Savant drops to a knee, grabs 3 torches and his oil flask, lighting the torches. Once lit he throws them into the room, trying to hit the entrance with one, and if he can, throws the other two in further. "Fire will cleanse this unholy place, even if the priest cannot."

He then tucks the oil flask in his belt and gets back in firing stance.

[torkill]

Eldon turned to the elf. "You said to rotate after each risk we face. Are you OK to continue the lead or do you want Sarge and I to take our turn now? I'll keep a close eye out for any traps... including that weird fungus!"

[Stirling]

Vann Hector

Sure. I am fine with rotating positions.

[Spearmint]

May 8th 1066:

Barrow Moor, south of Helix, Duchy of Aerik.

1.50pm. Windy conditions, light rain.
Light: visibility limited to 60'ft through thick mist.
Lantern (Reuben)
Vann Hector -4hp, Tamson -2hp, Reuben -2hp.
Effects: none.

With renewed enthusiasm to once more enter the tomb, the party advance. Savant tosses a trio of blazing torches which light up the interior. There are no more explosions of purple spores, no angry retorts to your intrusion.

Eldon and Tamson lead the way, the mastiff trailing at the halfling's heel. The passage opens into a octagonal domed chamber, about 30'ft across. In the centre of the room is a raised dias with a stone coffin. Around the room, each facet wall has shelves of earthenware jars of many different shapes, designs and sizes.

The torches may be gathered from the floor and wedged between some of the drystone wall construction. It brightens the room, the only shadows your own. The jars ring the circumference of the tomb.

The centre dias is raised in a couple of steps to the stone coffin. There are bas-relief portraits of a potter at work etched on the sides. The lid is covered in dust and mould. The chamber has a fetid smell of damp and cold.

You all enter, no threats apparent. You lower your bows and explore.

next actions please

[LordKane77]

Savant stows his bow. His instincts are still calling the alarm, but holding a bow at this point seems in poor form. Savant looks around the room. He tries to do a quick count of earthenware pots. He stows the oil flask back in his backpack, but pulls out a mallet. He also equips his shield. He walks to the closest pot and gives it a very light exploratory tap.
"mmhm... hshk.....Hrumph"
He pulls the mask down from his face, annoyed.
"If anyone is opposed to me smashing one of these, speak now."

[torkill]

Eldon tells the mastiff to stand guard in the center of the chamber while the party examines the room. "Why not just open it and peek inside first? What if it is filled with some aged spirits or even some ancient healing elixir." The halfling moves toward the dais and examines the step for any pressure plates before stepping on it and approaching the stone casket for a closer inspection.

[LordKane77]

Savant narrows his eyes at the "why smash" comment, but recognizes the wisdom. He holds up his shield between him and the jar and carefully reaches around it to remove the top, if able.

[Stirling]

Vann Hector

"These jars are ancient but I cannot tell the common from the noble.

Tamson, stay alert for intruders entering the passage. Reuben, check the casket and the body inside. If it is undead then we deal with it."

The elf will begin to look over the jars, shaking them, checking contents if unstopped, trying to note which ones look cracked and unsuitable for carrying away. Which ones are varnished, patterned, have any runes on?

[GreyWolfVT]

Dalin "Uh what if they contain the remains of ones buried by pyre ages ago?"

[Spearmint]

May 8th 1066:

Barrow Moor, south of Helix, Duchy of Aerik.

2.10pm. Windy conditions, light rain.
Light: exterior visibility limited to 60'ft through thick mist.
Lantern (Reuben) Flaming torches in wall (x4)
Vann Hector -4hp, Tamson -2hp, Reuben -2hp.
Effects: none.

I have included a basic 'octagonal' room for a visual and stuck an emoji coffin in the centre of the pic.

Due to the number of jars on hooks, their size and relative fragility or cumbersome shape, characters will have to spend at least one turn per wall to do a casual observation of the jars and two turns for a more detailed search.

can Vann Hector and Savant roll me a [1d100] in their next post please. Also tell me which wall of jars you search.

While Tamson stays on guard by the south passageway, the others search. No traps are discovered on the dais and so Eldon and Reuben approach the casket. The stone coffin has a secure heavy lid. It may be lifted or pushed aside, there are no hinges or apparent traps upon it. Dalin can help lift it off if you wish.

Savant, fearful of any explosion or trigger trap, braces a shield. He grabs a waxed cork, sealed for ages but is able to scratch away the grime and pull the stopper, which pops. A whiff of dessicated remains not a genie wafts out.

Vann Hector plays art deco critic, checking vases and jars for quality and value. Without much knowledge of specifics, all you can go on is gut feelings and anything that stands out.

Sarge drools over a lamb shank bone as the characters explore.

rolls and specific actions please.

[LordKane77]

Savant searches the bottom-right, (5 o'clock)

[1d100]=63

[Stirling]

Vann Hector

I will take the wall opposite the entrance, so the north one. Checking amphora jars for weight, quality and appraised value. Maybe I will chalk a tick for a supposed good one, cross a 'x' for leave and stick a '?' on others.

Vann Hector's search [1d100]=33

We are not in a rush so making a detailed search is going to provide better results hopefully.

[GreyWolfVT]

Dalin helps search taking the bottom left of the room. "I'm not opening no coffin sorry. But I'll help search."

Search [1d100]=53

[torkill]

Eldon looks at Reuben. the gleam of curiosity filled his eyes. "Seems they are gonna be a while looking at all those urns. Maybe we just take a little peek inside here in the meantime?" He tapped the tip of his shortsword against the casket. "Do you need to say some sort of prayer or something first, or can we just slide this top to the side a bit?"

[Spearmint]

May 8th 1066:

Barrow Moor, south of Helix, Duchy of Aerik.

2.10pm. Windy conditions, light rain.
Light: exterior visibility limited to 60'ft through thick mist.
Lantern (Reuben) Flaming torches in wall (x4)
Vann Hector -4hp, Tamson -2hp, Reuben -2hp.
Effects: none.

The trio of relic dealers appraise various amphora. Some are obviously cracked and have aged poorly. A few still retain glossy varnishing and have nicely crafted bowl shapes, necks or handles. Vann Hector marks a couple for a more closer inspection. Savant continues his wary investigation, trying to establish any contents of worth. Dalin taps a few, testing the sincerity of the jar, passing in the hollowed ones, putting aside couple of jars heavy with contents.

Reuben mutters a prayer and pushes aside the coffin lid. It grates heavily, stone upon stone. Eldon standing on his tiptoes, prods the coffin resident at the point of his blade. Inside the sarcophagus is a human figure though not as you expect. Settled on to a black linen sheet is a earthenware figure, reposed in position with arms across his shoulders. By his feet another vase rests.

At this point Sarge barks but you see no threat. Instead you watch as a large amphora is lifted off its hook and rotated as if grasped above the kneeling Savant who is investigating one he unhooked earlier. With a sudden crash, the amphora is violently hurled at him, striking him for -3hp, the jar breaking into jagged pieces.

Tamson fires his nocked arrow but the antagonist remains unseen.

actions and initiative please

Ghost vs VH, D, E, S, R, T [1d6]=4 [1d20]=19 damage [1d6]=1 or (vs med/heavy armoured) [1d4]=3

[Stirling]

Vann Hector

Turns around to see the stricken elf Savant bashed by a large jar.

He stabs out, hitting thin air. "Where is it? " he shouts, trying to watch any shadows move that are not ours.

"Reuben,
turn the undead spirit or bash the body in the coffin."

Vann Hector longsword melee [1d20+1]=1+1=2 damage [1d8]=2 Group initiative [1d6]=3

[torkill]

Eldon looks up as Sarge barks, but sees nothing. He scrambles on to the side of the coffin and reaches in to take the urn.