A blasphemous underpriest of the church of Lauto has betrayed his brothers. An artifact normally used to renew the wards in Daunton’s Mausoleum is being turned to a nefarious purpose. The church, in an effort to keep this from spreading among the clergy has hired outsiders to complete the task. They will travel into the Mausoleum, find the undercroft, and retrieve the artifact. Whether or not the offending priest survives to face justice or not is inconsequential.
Things We Probably All Know But I’ll Say Anyway
I’d like to see a post from each player 1 a day in an ideal world. That being said I am very conscious of real life often interfering with that, so don’t worry about it unless you’ll have a prolonged Hiatus (more then 2 days).
If you are going to disappear for a few days just let me know and I’ll NPC your character.
I am not perfect (Shocking I know!!). I often do my posting without access to my books so if I ever make a rules related slip up, smack me in the proverbial face and tell me so. Although in my own defense I am getting better and do it much less often.
All rolls should be done on invisible castle. If for some reason its unavailable for a short time we can just wait. In the case of a prolonged unavailability there are other options.
Try and stick to one color for your characters voice. This seems to have already happened without conflict so it shouldn’t be a problem.
Have fun! It’s a game, and I assume we all play because we love it, so lets enjoy this and hopefully you get some phat lootz and I get to smash some PC’s (not to death of course...just close ).
Vixo squints and looks around at the surroundings in the mausoleum.
ooc
what's the lighting situation like? Vixo can't sneak if he's holding a light source so I'd prefer someone (at least one) to carry a light if the tunnels aren't lit already
Stat Block
Vixo - Male Kobold Rogue 2
Passive Perception:17, Passive Insight:12, Senses: Normal
AC:17, Fortitude:14, Reflex:17, Will:12 -- Speed:6, Size: Small
HP: 33/33, Bloodied 16, Surge Value 8, Surges left 9/9
Action Points: 1, Second Wind: not used Current status effects: none
Powers - Shifty (Minor action shift 1) [Kobold Racial]
Deft Strike [Rogue 1]
Riposte Strike [Rogue 1] Dazing Strike[Rogue 1]
Multiclass Fighter Power [Student of the Sword Feat] Blinding Barrage [Rogue 1] Sneak in the Attack [Rogue 2]
Grakk stands at the enterance. His heart pounds like it did before fights between rival tribes. He takes a deep breath "Here we go Grakk", grips the hilt of his greatsword tightly and steps in and has a look at the surrounding area...
*stupid, STUPID, I shouldn't have said anything before I completed the task. He won't even acknowledge me... And now he's already dismissing me. I don't want to spend the money to stay at the inn, I've yet to get a horse, I don't want to camp again, fleas... Have to pay a wizard to clean me up again... greedy lot, except for Magnus there, he's mad though. Just have to complete this task, maybe if I capture the priest and execute him in the way Vrrsk't describes, the High Priest would show some favor!*
Head bowed, hands together, palms touching, the shifter walked in silence until Belingras was out of ear shot and eye line.
This is a Great Honor. Take everything in. Try not to touch too much, if you defile it, bring it with you. I'll do my best to get things purified and returned to their proper places. If you aren't superstitious, do what you like. The Temple believes you will get your justice in the end. As everyone goes before Death. Slardy is our top priority, sight seeing can be done on the way back, if anyone would like. I know I'd love to explore a bit!
As Belingras opens the door, he puts his hand on Kamotz shoulder and leans in close.
Fret not, the church cares for its own. Perform admirably then speak with me after.
With one final look Belingras proceeds back up the stairs. Ahead of you the Mausoleum stretches off into the distance. Every 45 or 50 feet a pale crystal is affixed to the wall, shimmering with a dim arcane radiance. Glyphs crawl up and down the walls, and the walls are regularly broken by passages or heavy doors of iron all adorned in similar fashion with large, heavy locks.
Kamotz and Grakk both notice that the floor shows layers of dust built up over the years. The dust looks to be recently disturbed heading off in the direction indicated by Belingras.
Vrrsk't eyes the long corridor ahead. If there is no lighting, he will light and carry a sunrod (making a big deal about bringing the brilliant radiance of Apoli to this dark place). Otherwise, he will move in, trying to remember the directions: "pass ten intersections, then right, then left."
"I suggest we let the little one scout ahead. Kamotz, this is your domain; any particular hazards we should be on the lookout for?"
Heads up, eyes wide. whispers Kamotz, Vixo can scout in front if he so chooses, otherwise our stealthiest members should lead.
The shifter continued down the hall, full of purpose, eager to please the Temple, hardly noticing the way some of the dust seemed to swirl, almost spiral, around Slardy's footprints.
Grakk speaks in a low voice to the palidan and the warlock. "Hmmmf...Is this the right battle tactic? I'm not used to sneaking around. I prefer the brute force approach, rushing our enemies like a bull and taking no prisoners." He pauses for a second and then states: "Of course, I'm used to traveling solo. The team approach is new to me. I will observe and learn from this approach."
Noticing that he is the only one talking at this point, Grakk stops. As the group moves forward, Grakk senses tell him that confrontation is coming soon. He smiles, ready to unleash his fury to those who stand against him and his fellow adventurers.
Magnus eyed the entrance with something akin to trepidation. Carefully he stepped up to hit, reaching out his hand as though it might lash out at him. Slowly, gingerly he ran his hand along the cool, hard surface of the frame.
The cusp, the cusp...here at this strange divide we stand...between the land of the living...and the land of the dead...
Closing his eyes, Magnus stepped through the doorway with a grimace. On the other side he opened one eye and looked around and then the other. Having not succumb to whatever terror he had imagined he seemed remember his purpose.
Tick tock, tick tock...must hurry lest the dead cross back across the threshold...
As he spoke he carefully tucked the bundle he'd been carrying all this time in a corner and then followed the others down the hallway, his staff and stubby legs patting out a broken rhythm. While they moved his studied the glyphs and markings on the walls of the massive mausoleum.
ooc
Magnus is looking for any signs of glyphs having had the functions altered or other signs of occult tampering.
Grakk speaks in a low voice to the palidan and the warlock. "Hmmmf...Is this the right battle tactic? I'm not used to sneaking around. I prefer the brute force approach, rushing our enemies like a bull and taking no prisoners."
Vrrsk't whispers back, "I'm with you on the brute force approach, but we want to make sure this foul Slardazial hasn't laid a trap for us first."
He then draws his flail quietly, preparing himself for whatever lies ahead.
__________________
Vrrsk't
Vrrsk't - Dragonborn Paladin 2
Initiative +2 Passive perception 13 Passive Insight 13
AC 22 For 16 Ref 15 Will 14
HP 35/35 Bloodied 17 Surge value 10 Surges: 11/12
Speed:5 | AP: 0 | 2nd Wind: unused
Basic Melee: Flail +7 (1d10+4)
Powers:
Holy Strike Bolstering Strike Lay on Hands x1 Radiant Smite
Sun Strike
Channel Divinity
Dragon Breath Paladin's Judgment (used)
Martyr's Blessing
Catein
Catein- Warforged Invoker 1
Initiative +0 Passive perception 14 Passive Insight 19
AC 16 For 14 Ref 11 Will 16
HP 26/27 Bloodied 13 Surge value 6 Surges: 7/9
Speed:5 | AP: 1 | 2nd Wind: unused
Basic Melee: Spiked Gauntlet +4, 1d6+2
Powers: Avenging Light Grasping Shards Thunder of Judgment
Channel Divinity
Warforged Resolve Binding Invocation of Chains (used)
Vrrsk't whispers back, "I'm with you on the brute force approach, but we want to make sure this foul Slardazial hasn't laid a trap for us first."
Grakk listens and then replies: "Yes...that makes sense Vrrsk't." Grakk then brings his blade in front of him, pointing it forward, ready to strike at a moments notice. Then in a stern, but quiet voice: "Once the path is clear, your flail and my blade will cause great destruction to our enemies."
Grakk's Stats
Grakk: Goliath Barbarian: Level 1
Adverse Conditions: None
Initiative: +2
Passive Insight: 10
Passive Perception: 15
Senses Normal: Vision
HP 33, Bloodied 16
Surge Value 8; Surges Per-Day 13
AC =16
Fortitude 16 Reflex 13 Will 11 Speed 6
action Points:1
second wind: Not Used
basic attack: Greatsword: To Hit: +7: Damage 1d10+6
Powers
At will: Recuporating Strike, Devastating Strike
Encounter: Avalanche Strike, Stone's Endurance
Daily Standard: Bloodhunt Rage
Magnus realizes that almost all the runes compose one giant ward, woven and re-woven into the fabric of the walls. They veritably pulse with positive energy. Their significance is both religious and practical, weakening planar barriers here to make it easier for spirits to cross while simultaneously preventing any of the bodies from rising into undeath.
As you move further down the tunnels you pass hundreds of doors, and several passages leading off in other directions bearing nearly identical markings and doors. As you count the turns, following Belingras instructions the doors themselves become more ostentacious.
Kamotz realises you must now be entering a district of the maoseleum where more wealthy families are buried. Finally arriving at the first turn you are to take, a large marking above the archway proclaims "Honored Dead of Lauto, In Death We Serve As In Life" The tracks proceed down the tunnel out of sight.
Grakk is growing inpatient, but keeps his head straight. He thinks to himself: How long do these cursed tunnels go on?! Taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly, he moves forward through the endless tunnels hoping soon that the group reaches their objective.
*An underground tomb full of dead priests and a deranged live one. This is almost as much fun as the forest.* Morvannon unhooks a short rod of translucent green stone from his belt and grips it tightly as the group approaches the designated archway.
Moving into the new tunnel you only have to walk a few minutes before you spot the turn you're looking for. As you approach it Vrrsk't notices a strange pulse of purple light race along the runes coming from the hallway and crawl along the tunnels.
Watching carefully it seems to be happening every 9 or 10 seconds but the tempo is slowly increasing, like a heart beating to some unknown rhythm.
At the end of the hallway is a large, ornate door bearing the symbols of Lauto. It has obviously been opened recently but was then closed tightly again from the other side.
As Kamotz listens at the door, the barbarian makes his observations as well.
ooc
roll perception 1d20+5 (can the door be bashed opened? = 9
Whispering to the rest of the group. "I can't tell how strong the door is, but I'm willing to test it." To the palidan: "If we both attempt to bash the open the door, we might be able to catch the priest off-guard. The dead don't get surprised, but the living do."
Grakk signals Kamotz of his intentions and waits for his signal.
Grakk's Stats
Grakk: Goliath Barbarian: Level 1
Adverse Conditions: None
Initiative: +2
Passive Insight: 10
Passive Perception: 15
Senses Normal: Vision
HP 33, Bloodied 16
Surge Value 8; Surges Per-Day 13
AC =16
Fortitude 16 Reflex 13 Will 11 Speed 6
action Points:1
second wind: Not Used
basic attack: Greatsword: To Hit: +7: Damage 1d10+6
Powers
At will: Recuporating Strike, Devastating Strike
Encounter: Avalanche Strike, Stone's Endurance
Daily Standard: Bloodhunt Rage
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