Chapter 12: Shadows in the Dark

[Darren]

Kal offers a slight bow when the man addresses him. "A performance, indeed, and one that I was glad to be a part of. I guess you were not one of the unfortunates who missed their chance..." Kal's eyes narrow in scrutiny of the other man. "Was it the sphinx's information that sent you here, as well?" He stands on his toes to look past the strangers, shifting left and right to get a better view. "I hadn't thought to find anything down that way." Kal throws a glance over his shoulder at Belarin, then turns back and smiles at the strangers.

[Jeff]

The Medani half-elf raises an eyebrow.

Sem drifts up behind Kal. He whispers very softly to him, "Wrong. Medani were among the Uninformed."

"In fact," the half-elf says. "We didn't hear a single private word from the sphinx." His expression hardens into an accusatory glare. "I wouldn't have expected Deneith to resort to sabotage. But I can understand the need to be wary of a house that knows things by trade." He taps the bundle as he says this. Sounds like something hollow and metal.

The woman tenses and throws her companion a gentle warning.

[Dave B.]

Shorak tenses slightly at the half-elf's tone, but doesn't reach for his weapon...yet.

[Joe]

Streko bows. "It was unfortunate that the Vampire and his Emerald Claw cohorts initiated their assassination attempt so quickly. I assure you, my Lord and my Lady, that House Deneith is not he enemy here. In fact, I might suggest that, should the right individuals come along and offer assistance, they could very well be rewarded with what it is they seek. We are not interested in fame or fortune or anything that goes with that. We wish for nothing less than the safety of all the peoples of Eberron, whichever faith or house they may practice. I, for example, worship the Goddess Olladra and am a member in good standing of House Jorasco. We wish no harm to you. We only wish to find answers to questions the gods themselves would pose."
He clears his throat and smiles.

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Streko tries his hand at Persuasion, attempting to get them to give up something that might help us.

OH MYYYY....

1d20+7=27

[Ken]

Belarin at first glares at Kal and the Medani man. He seems about to say something, but Streko speaks up first.

He raises an eyebrow and goes back to his study of the mausoleum.

[Dave W.]

Adamant stays with Belarin and is back to trying to go unreguarded. He does pay attention to the half-elves as they come up to Kal but he does not move there. When Streko gives his speach, the warforged nods his head in approval.

[Darren]

Kal looks down at Sem. "Subterfuge is not your forte, is it?" He opens his mouth to respond to the Medani half-elves, but Streko gets there first. He listens with approval and waits for the response.

[Mike]

Syrdan watches as Kal and the others speak with the half-elf, his face calm and impassive as he remains silent.

Instead, he turns his attention to the mausoleum entrance along with Belarin, studying it closely.

[Brian]

Condign stands motionless, but the grip on his sword hilt tightens. He has little reason to trust House Medani, especially in furtive encounters like this. Still...Streko's appeal was impressive, and may have averted a confict. Drawing a breath in through his nostrils, he waits for the next move.

[Jeff]

Oct 1, 2014 21:35:58 GMT -4 Joe said:

Streko bows. "It was unfortunate that the Vampire and his Emerald Claw cohorts initiated their assassination attempt so quickly. I assure you, my Lord and my Lady, that House Deneith is not he enemy here. In fact, I might suggest that, should the right individuals come along and offer assistance, they could very well be rewarded with what it is they seek. We are not interested in fame or fortune or anything that goes with that. We wish for nothing less than the safety of all the peoples of Eberron, whichever faith or house they may practice. I, for example, worship the Goddess Olladra and am a member in good standing of House Jorasco. We wish no harm to you. We only wish to find answers to questions the gods themselves would pose."

He clears his throat and smiles.

The Medani half-elf regards Streko with a blank face, revealing nothing. But when the halfling finishes, he gives a disarming smile. "I appreciate that. It is always good business and better manners for the houses to get along. Shame on the Storm Lords for pitting one against another. As it happens, my kinsmen have teamed up with House Kundarak on this affair. The dwarves were fortunate enough to speak with the sphinx before things got...interesting. As Kundarak is at their best locking things up, they're happy to utilize the skills of true inquisitives." He winks.

Sem mutters, "Noted."

Your party of nine—a warforged, three humans, a tiefling, two elves, and a gnome—still block the path for the Medani half-elf and his guard. His face is polite, but anxious. "Please, my lords," he says, this time to both Streko and Kal. "After you. I wish you good fortune on this hunt."

Belarin has learned nothing more, and further scrutiny of the mausoleum from the outside reveals little. It is minimally adorned, but obviously quite old. Being two-story, it's large enough for quite a large family, especially if it has a lower level.

[Ken]

Belarin nods to the pair and says morosely, "Please excuse me. I must pay my respects." He walks into the mausoleum.

[Brian]

When Belarin advances, Condign says, "We should give our friend some time alone to honor his ancestors." He gestures for the others to move aside and allow the Medani lord and his guard to pass. To the half-elf, he adds, "May the day bring you good fortune."

[Dave B.]

Oct 3, 2014 14:33:55 GMT -4 Ken said:

Belarin nods to the pair and says morosely, "Please excuse me. I must pay my respects." He walks into the mausoleum.

Seeing Belarin entering the mausoleum, Shorak moves forward. If there are any hidden dangers within, his skills may be needed. "Time for me to return to the front of the line." He says to nobody in particular. Shorak stops at the entrance, looking into the tomb.

Hearing Condign's statement, Shorak says, "Alone time? Perhaps. I'll just keep an eye on him during his 'Alone time'.

[Dave W.]

Oct 5, 2014 9:39:07 GMT -4 Dave B. said:

Hearing Condign's statement, Shorak says, "Alone time? Perhaps. I'll just keep an eye on him during his 'Alone time'.

"Ah, yes," Adamant adds, "our friend is not the most stable personality I'm afraid. I think I should like to keep him in sight as well. He's as likely to pay respects to the decayed remains as to... I believe the word is 'nibble'?... on the sarcophagus."

"I beg your pardons gentle beings." The warforged follows his human friend.

[Jeff]

Oct 5, 2014 9:37:45 GMT -4 Brian said:

When Belarin advances, Condign says, "We should give our friend some time alone to honor his ancestors." He gestures for the others to move aside and allow the Medani lord and his guard to pass. To the half-elf, he adds, "May the day bring you good fortune."

The half-elf and his guard continue to wait for this to happen, faces tight. While they could get around by squeezing between the path and some headstones, it would be very awkward.

Belarin, meanwhile, steps into the mausoleum, followed by Adamant, while Shorak stands at the entry peering in. The half-drow's eyes are the keenest, but even he can only see so far. While a fair amount of daylight shines into the building, there are no windows of any kind offering their own. The mausoleum is grim.

The human, warforged, and half-drow can see a number of sarcophagi, and each lid embossed with some kind of image. The smooth stone floor is cracked in several places and plenty of mud has been trailed in here. Even now, some fresh mud and puddles have formed. You're left thinking that whoever's family's mausoleum this is, they're probably not around anymore since no one's keeping it up. 

Condign, Kal, Rinti, Tangat, Streko, Larest, and Sem continue to stand in the Medani's way. Larest and Sem begin to drift toward the mausoleum entrance curiously, but the gnome throws glances back at the strangers.

[Darren]

"Well," Kal says, "as you say, there's no reason for our Houses to fight. Cooperation could suit us all much better." Kal offers a half-bow to the Medani elves. "Should you come across anything you wish to share, please know that you have a friend in House Deneith. Simply ask for Kalarian Jaeren." Kal takes a step back and sweeps his hand towards the now open path.

[Dave W.]

Adamant moves in and to his right, hoping to leave space for the others to file in. He examines the sarcophagus at hand. "Let's stay alert and mostly together." he mentions to Belarin and Shorak.

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So, Addy's moving South and Southeast (I know we're not in combat but I wanted to give a more precise indication.

So are some of the sarcophagi cracked open as the pic indicates? or is that just the image?

[Brian]

Rolling his eyes at everyone standing around waiting for who will make the first move, Condign says, "My lords, can we please may way for these two? I suppose if we all have to enter the mausoleum to do so, then that is what we must do. Our friend will simply have to suffer our company during his time of reflection." With that said, he starts ushering the others toward the open mausoleum door.

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Not trying to be bossy. Just trying to move things along, since I'm not sure how Kal's response will be taken.

[Dave B.]

Shorak leans in between Adamant and Belarin and says, "Well? Shall we continue on in or would you like me to check to be sure the immediate area is safe to traverse?"

[Joe]

Streko follows the group into the mausoleum, taking a position at the rear of the formation. "If any needs to brighten up the place, I do have an everlasting lantern available upon request. Just let me know..."

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I posted something yesterday and it isn't here now....huh...guess I have to repost. Ugh.

[Ken]

Oct 8, 2014 20:52:45 GMT -4 Dave B. said:

Shorak leans in between Adamant and Belarin and says, "Well? Shall we continue on in or would you like me to check to be sure the immediate area is safe to traverse?"

Belarin, still concentrating, snorts a response. "Oh, we'll be fine," he assures. He steps about twenty feet forward and slightly to his left, in the direction of the casket with a lid that seems to be ajar. His senses still alert for arcane energies, he ventures a glance around.

__________________

Belarin is still using his Eldritch Sight invocation to detect magic. If anything radiates a strong abjuration or necromantic aura, he'll raise a hand quickly to forestall any additional motion.

[Jeff]

The Medani half-elf gives Kal a nod. "Kalarian Jaeren, of course. Good day to you." He and his companion hurry along, and look back a few times.

Inside the dark mausoleum, Belarin's arcane sense can penetrate the gloom, but not his eyes. He senses no magic of significance, only a faint ambient energy owing to things that might have come and gone. But he knows from the outside that this is a two-story building and almost certainly has a level below as well, and he's fairly sure there's more than a foot of stone blocking his scrutiny above and below.

The nearest sarcophagus to Adamant bears some level of design in the lid (though the base is fairly plain), a stylized etching resembling a bearded human male reclined in armor and a scimitar. One thing of note he does observe: where there was once an inscription on the lid, or a person's name or title, it is now deliberately rubbed vigorously away. So now there is no name designation.

_______________________________________

I can update the map later, but without light, there's no much more to show.

[Dave W.]

"One of these days we will come by sufficent treasure for me to upgrade these old eye-gems to ones that see in the dark." Adamant activates the Delver's Light to cast bright light over the area. "Thank you my Lady for the gift of Light."

"Well perhaps I wouldn't get new eye-gems; there is too much good that could be done with that sort of wealth."

Adamant tries again to examine the coffin...

[Ken]

Belarin looks back at Adamant and Syrdan. "Are you two still acting as my bodyguards?" he jokes. "I thought I fired you." When Adamant activates his light, Belarin says, "Thanks, Adamant. Much better." He decides to hold off on examining the farther sarcophagus for the moment, preferring instead to take advantage of the light emitted by his warforged friend.

As he joins Adamant, he says to his companions, "We'll have to continue to the lower level of this crypt. Oh, by the way, there was a divination dweomer of some sort around the entrance, probably to alert someone of visitors." He gestures casually in the direction of the entrance. "Thought I'd mention it. What have you got here?"

[Dave B.]

Shorak looks around and starts moving slowly to the left of the entrance. "i think I'll take a closer look in this direction. Anyone care to join me?"

[Dave W.]

Oct 10, 2014 23:32:56 GMT -4 Ken said:

Belarin looks back at Adamant and Syrdan. "Are you two still acting as my bodyguards?" he jokes. "I thought I fired you."

"Well, I'll just head back to Sharn then." Adamant says lightly. He lays a heavy hand on Belarin's shoulder, "unless you think you might need a sword and shield in the near future."

[Jeff]

Adamant's blazing light melts the darkness away, leaving only deep shadows behind every sarcophagus. The full dimensions of the chamber are discernible. You see there's a small room in the center of the space, and on the opposite side a set of stairs going up, and stairs going down.

In the far corner, Shorak can see that one the lids has been slid completely away and in fact lies upon the ground at the base of the stairs, part of it on the stairs.

Larest and Sem also enter the mausoleum, looking around carefully but not venturing from the center of the group.

[Brian]

With more light in the mausoleum, and seeing that Shorak has moved to the left side of the building, Condign wanders to the right. He moves carefully among the sarcophagi, inspecting each as he passes, and remaining vigilant to any sound or movement.

[Joe]

Streko sighs softly to himself. Well, at least I'll have both hands free now, he thinks to himself, no longer worried about carrying the lantern in one of them.

He takes hold of his sickle, though, keenly aware that mausoleums have a nasty way of holding the dead...and in some instances, the undead, in their midst. He holds his place in line and strains to look around Condign's body up ahead, as well as to make out the echoing voices of Belarin and Shorak, who have already turned the corner and moved deeper into the mausoleum.

"Adamant, perhaps you should remain closer to our friends in front, should any long since passed individuals decide to return to our world for a visit."

[Dave W.]

Oct 12, 2014 11:32:08 GMT -4 Joe said:

[Streko says]"Adamant, perhaps you should remain closer to our friends in front, should any long since passed individuals decide to return to our world for a visit."

"Are you suggesting Belarin does still need a bodygaurd," Adamant quips. "Well, it is our duty to serve." Adamant moves to catch up to the human and half-elf.