Chapter 12: Shadows in the Dark

[Ken]

Belarin feigns annoyance. "Oh well, if you MUST...! Come along and, ooooh, stairs!" He walks toward the stairs but pauses at the sarcophagus at the top. He peers carefully at its interior.

[Dave B.]

Shorak can only sigh with acceptance as Belarin, the mad human, brazenly strides towards the stairs. It's as if Belarin is acting like a child in a toy shop. Humans are hard enough to understand as it is. Shorak just shrugs his shoulders and continues his careful search of the area for any unpleasant surprises.

Just in case, here's Shorak's perception roll. Not too good, unfortunately.

Perception check. (1d20+4=10)

[Mike]

Syrdan watches with mild amusement as everyone swiftly moves past him.

"Back to business as usual, it seems," he says to no one in particular.

He takes his place at the rear, silently following the rest of the group inside the mausoleum.

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Perception roll, FWIW:

Perception roll: (1d20+7=14)

[Jeff]

Condign, with Streko trailing behind him, wanders among the sarcophagi to the right. Like Adamant, he finds that each one—while the lid is carved with stylistic motifs and a vague representation of the person represented—has had its name rubbed away. They are completely unreadable. 

Belarin approaches the sarcophagus whose lid lies on the floor at the base of the steps up. Deep shadow fills the stone coffin, but Belarin can glimpse a haphazardly-placed and decidedly-bloody coil of rope, some sort of heavily-stained, cloth-based padding underneath it, and a single skull lying inside. Otherwise, no body. It smells faintly of rotting materials.

Sem and Larest move into the mausoleum. Rinti peaks around Kal. The gnome says to Belarin, "Assuming we are approaching the ir'Serrels doorstep, are we likely to be set upon by ghouls as a matter of course, or do you think they reserve such watchdogs only for people they're not expecting?" Sem's voice, while quiet, echoes clearly through the space.

Dave B: When you want to search an area, give me specifics—the floor, the wall, the ceiling, and how? You could say all of the above, but just know that it would take much longer, and thins are likely to have moved on a bit before you got too far. Sometimes rolls aren't needed if you describe searching a specific spot that actually does have something noteworthy. Rolls are really only needed when you might overlook something.

[Ken]

Belarin shrugs. “It’s a good question, Sem. If what I sensed earlier is right, and I’m sure it is, they likely would know that someone is here – or, more likely, many someones. It’s best to be prepared for rapacious undead watchdogs.”

As he speaks, he reaches into his dark green cloak and withdraws the black candle he retrieved from the undersea wreck. He cranes his head around, taking a peek toward the descending set of stairs.

[Darren]

Kal walks up behind Belarin and peers over his shoulder and down into the tomb. He flicks his hand towards the descending rope and it suddenly springs to life with its own light. "Are we heading down there?" He glances back towards Rinti and Tangat. "We may need to leave a few of our members behind," he says quietly.

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Kal is casting light on the rope. It should shed bright light for 20' around the rope and dim light for 20' beyond that.

[Dave B.]

With everyone moving towards the stairs, Shorak doesn't bother checking more carefully for any traps, trip wires, etc. He does stop by the opening of small room in the center of the mausoleum to get a better look in, when someone with light gets close enough to do so.

[Brian]

Condign, with Streko behind him, advances. He keeps close watch on the sarcophagi , making sure none of the lids move. When he reaches the back of the mausoleum, he pauses. Belarin stands across from him, holding a black candle and peering down some stairs. "What do you see?" he asks in a hushed tone.

[Jeff]

Without exception, Condign, Streko, and Syrdan can see that every name seems to have been wiped away from this crypt.

Kal reaches toward the open sarcophagus, ready to enchant it with his spell. (Touch is required.) Rinti has one hand on Kal's cloak, but Kal can see that Tangat is watching over her. "It's cold here," she whispers nervously.

Belarin, with black candle in hand, peers down the stairs, which are utterly black. He can see only the first couple of steps from where he's standing. There's a chill drifting up from below.

Shorak pauses in front of the central chamber and sees another sarcophagus by itself, slightly larger, and carved with fancier designs. The stone has a blueish tint to it as well.

"I shall watch the door," Sem says with a nervous laugh. "And make sure the monsters don't attack us from the outside."

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Kal and Belarin: give me Perception rolls! (When I feel there's somehow less time, I can always roll these for you, but I'd rather let you guys do them when possible.)

[Darren]

Kal puts an arm around Rinti's shoulder. "Be brave, now," he says quietly. Peering into the sarcophagus he sees nothing but the bottom and some rope. "Huh," he says. Then he picks up a rock and walks next to Belarin. Illuminating the rock, he tosses it down the stairs. "Let's take a look," he says.

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Perception check (1d20+3=10)

[Ken]

Belarin stares down at the area at the bottom of the stairs. "Can't quite make out anything. I don't hear any sounds. You, Kal?"

He's tempted to light the candle in his hand, but he hesitates. "The candle may allow me to control the undead as it did below the sea," he says softly to Kal, "but lighting it will likely also alert them to our presence. It's ... tricky like that."

_______________________

Perception roll: 1d20 = 3. Nada.

[Joe]

Streko whispers to Condign, "Why do you suppose all the names have been erased? Does that mean that those who had previously been buried here are no longer here, or something more sinister, such as those buried here are no longer quite dead? Perhaps we should all stay together. It would do none of us any good if all of these closed sarcophagi were to abruptly open and vomit forth the undead."

[Brian]

"I am not sure," Condign says to Streko. "Though I think it may be the latter. But if Belarin is correct, and this is a way to contact his lady friend, then our peril may not be great." He turns and smiles at the halfling. "You are more than capable of dealing with a few ghouls and ghosts, my friend. I am not afraid."

[Dave W.]

"I like a nice exploration, but aren't we meant to go somewhere?" Adamant addresses the group. "Belarin, my friend, I had rather hoped you had a plan or path in your head when you lead us in here. Are we supposed to mill about here until something happens or is there a next step?"

[Dave B.]

Oct 19, 2014 9:15:47 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

"I like a nice exploration, but aren't we meant to go somewhere?" Adamant addresses the group. "Belarin, my friend, I had rather hoped you had a plan or path in your head when you lead us in here. Are we supposed to mill about here until something happens or is there a next step?"

Shorak moves to stand next to Adamant, nodding in agreement. "Well, Belarin. Since we are not here to loot the crypt," Shorak glances briefly towards the center chamber, "What shall we do next?"

[Ken]

"We descend, my friend," says Belarin brightly. "We descend. Just like the instructions said." He takes a couple of steps down and adds, "I intend to light the candle once I get down there. If the ir'Sorells are as talented as I suspect, they'll notice it. And if not, well, it'll be interesting!"

[Dave W.]

Oct 19, 2014 18:06:20 GMT -4 Ken said:

"We descend, my friend," says Belarin brightly. "We descend. Just like the instructions said." He takes a couple of steps down and adds, "I intend to light the candle once I get down there. If the ir'Sorells are as talented as I suspect, they'll notice it. And if not, well, it'll be interesting!"

"Well, perhaps I should go down first, just in case 'interesting' involves sudden, unexpected violence." Adamant heads down the stairs.

[Jeff]

Kal heads outside, trailing Rinti and Tangat, grabs a nearby rock (seeing that the Medani half-elf is now well out of sight), and comes back in, enspelling it with light. The shadows deepen as the room itself brightens.

When he tosses the rock down the stairwell, it clatters on the stone, pushing back the darkness. About thirty feet down, it stops, hitting the cellar floor with a damp splash; there seems to be some standing water there. Although you can't make out much of the space around it, Kal spies a dark figure down there move out of sight just as the light reaches it.

[Darren]

"Well, then," Kal says to Belarin, jerking a thumb at the figure below, "A friend of yours?"

[Ken]

"Probably not," says Belarin wryly. "Although he'd likely love to have me over for dinner...."

He suddenly grunts in annoyance. "To Khyber with this, I'm not going to force us to fight undead just to get an audience! We have the edge, and I intend to use it!" He holds forth the black candle and he recites the arcane phrase that "lights" it.

[Brian]

Seeing Belarin light the candle, Condign motions to Steko. "It looks like the fun is about to start. I suggest you stand next to Belarain and Kal. They may need your aid. I will watch this side of the mausoleum. I believe Syrdan or Shorak are on the other side. Hopefully they likewise watching."

Despite an unsetting feeling in his bones, Condign resists drawing his blade. For now.

[Darren]

Knowing his friend may be vulnerable while using the mysterious candle, Kal takes a defensive stance to Belarin's side, his sharrash held at an angle across his body.

[Dave B.]

Seeing Belarin light the candle and Kal take a defensive stance, Shorak checks his weapons, making sure they are ready to be drawn cleanly. He turns to Adamant and says, "Well, that certainly doesn't look ominous. I guess we better prepare ourselves for a possible hostile greeting." Shorak smiles wanly and takes a couple of steps closer to Belarin and the top of the stairs.

[Joe]

Oct 21, 2014 4:28:08 GMT -4 Brian said:

Seeing Belarin light the candle, Condign motions to Steko. "It looks like the fun is about to start. I suggest you stand next to Belarain and Kal. They may need your aid. I will watch this side of the mausoleum. I believe Syrdan or Shorak are on the other side. Hopefully they likewise watching."

"Agreed, my friend. But stay close, it would not be wise to become separated in this place!" With that, Streko moves toward Belarin and Kal, placing himself just behind and between Tangat and Rinti.

[Dave W.]

Oct 22, 2014 6:35:35 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Map update coming soon, as the group seems to have drifted toward the stairs. Meanwhile, I've only just noticed (d'oh) that Adamant stated he's heading down already. Still the case, ya?

yes. He suggested going first, unless someone suggests otherwise he's on his way down

[Jeff]

Adamant alone heads down the stairs, his footfalls echoing hollowly into the darkness. (Is his delver's light in use?)

[Dave W.]

Oct 22, 2014 9:17:09 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Adamant alone heads down the stairs, his footfalls echoing hollowly into the darkness. (Is his delver's light in use?)

As Adamant descends, his light travels with him, making odd and disturbing shadows above.
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Yes, Adamant has his light on...

[Jeff]

Glowing brighter than any other light source wielded by your part, Adamant reaches the bottom of the stairs. He detects the odor of rot down here—old, stale. More like moldering bones than decaying flesh. But there is also a metallic tang to it.

The chamber below is lit up by his Delver's Light, which shines from his chest like the beacon it is. Adamant sees more sarcophagi here, but his light doesn't quite penetrate the stairs that descend into a lower section of this floor. The wall to his left is dominated by a section of thick wood, riddled with alcoves. In some of them, urns are displayed. Others are bare. There are remnants of shattered urns on the floor, but only a few. And the ground at the foot of the wall is heavy with dust.

A figure ducks just out of sight beyond one of the nearer sarcophagi to Adamant's right. He glimpsed only the wisp of gray hair. Whatever it is, it's either shy or...lurking.

[Brian]

"Kal!" Condign hisses, and gestures to the stairs Adamant just descended. "He may need a little help!"

[Dave W.]

Adamant stops at the bottom of the stairs and addresses the lurker, "We offer no harm to anyone who would offer us the same peace. And we are not here to rob the dead. We are on a path to meet someone and are just passing through. You need not fear us if you offer us no ill will."

Adamant lifts his heavy arms away from his body and the weapons at his belt.