Session IV: Caverns Under the Tomb
Running my fingers over the stone walls I find a brick with its mortar cracked just a bit too much. I take the lamp from Balderk and hold it up, but I can’t see into the cracks. Still, nothing about the brick or the door suggests that it’s trapped. The Halfling comes over, grabbing on to my pant leg and trying to hop up so he can see. Push it! he says, push it!
Fine, little man, I’ll push the brick in, but as I do I hear two clicks. I leap back just as a fine mist of flammable oil sprays out at my knees, sparking alight to create a sphere of whooshing, roaring flames. Chath and I both shout out, covering our faces against the searing heat as the flames roil about us.
Fortunately there wasn’t much oil left in the old trap and the vaporized spray burns itself out quickly, leaving an acrid cloud of greasy black smoke. The secret door swings loosely on its squeaky hinges, stout oak with a stone façade made to blend into the wall. I hold the lamp high and take a step into the dark corridor beyond, but just as I do Balderk cries out More skeletons! Fall back and defend yourselves!
I’m still patting out flaming bit of my clothes as the Halfling shoves me through the door. Cyridon and Theros fall back towards the entrance while Balderk turns to face the oncoming skeletons, blocking the hall. As I stumble through the door I spot a small lever about knee height. I know what it is, but before I can shout a warning Chath pushes me down the dark, narrow corridor. I leap as hard as I can as the floor gives way under my weight, flinging myself down the corridor. I sail across the pit, slamming into the far side, scrambling to get hold. Dirt and debris tumble past me down into the darkness and I dig my fingers into the cracks in the rock floor, my knees banging into the wall. Finally, knuckles and knees bloodied, I catch myself. Oops.. heh heh. Ooo skeletons! Scoot over!
I pull myself to my feet just as Chath makes a running leap over the pit to land beside me, his momentum carrying him tumbling down the passageway to crash into a wall. He clambers to his feet, digging a sling and stone from his belt. I whirl and snatch a vial of holy water only to see Theros and Cyridon still standing at the doorway, Cyridon with his sigil held high and Theros fumbling through the many small pockets on his vest. I cannot see Balderk, though I hear him roaring as he clashes with what surely must be more wet, bloody skeletons.
Theros spots Chath and me several yards down the hidden hallway and runs to join us. Just as I shout to warn him of the pit, I hear a bamf and feel my ears pop at the odd rushing of wind, and Theros seems to flicker the last few yards to suddenly appear before me. I hear Balderk bellow in pain, and know that at least one of the skeletons got to him.
Finally, Cyridon shouts in that gravely, unearthly voice, and everything becomes still… nothing but the creaking of our armor, shuffle of our feet and the rapid heavy breathing of combat. He must have finally gotten command of them. I take a few steps and leap across the pit again, this time kicking the lever down to lock the swinging plates into place. I throw Chath a dirty look as he ambles across.
Five dripping red skeletons stand dumbly, their arms limp at their sides, and Balderk and Cyridon stand amidst them. I roll my eyes a bit, because I know what’s coming next. We can’t slay them like this, he says. Go figure. I can slay them like this just fine. I figure they’re already dead, and really we’d be doing them a favor.
But instead we work out a plan, involving several vials of holy water, Balderk’s flail, Theros’ staff, a layer of protective shells cast by the mage, and an organized leapfrogging down the hall. Once we’re set, Cyridon releases the skeletons and we take them out one at a time.
Running my fingers over the stone walls I find a brick with its mortar cracked just a bit too much. I take the lamp from Balderk and hold it up, but I can’t see into the cracks. Still, nothing about the brick or the door suggests that it’s trapped. The Halfling comes over, grabbing on to my pant leg and trying to hop up so he can see. Push it! he says, push it!
Fine, little man, I’ll push the brick in, but as I do I hear two clicks. I leap back just as a fine mist of flammable oil sprays out at my knees, sparking alight to create a sphere of whooshing, roaring flames. Chath and I both shout out, covering our faces against the searing heat as the flames roil about us.
Fortunately there wasn’t much oil left in the old trap and the vaporized spray burns itself out quickly, leaving an acrid cloud of greasy black smoke. The secret door swings loosely on its squeaky hinges, stout oak with a stone façade made to blend into the wall. I hold the lamp high and take a step into the dark corridor beyond, but just as I do Balderk cries out More skeletons! Fall back and defend yourselves!
I’m still patting out flaming bit of my clothes as the Halfling shoves me through the door. Cyridon and Theros fall back towards the entrance while Balderk turns to face the oncoming skeletons, blocking the hall. As I stumble through the door I spot a small lever about knee height. I know what it is, but before I can shout a warning Chath pushes me down the dark, narrow corridor. I leap as hard as I can as the floor gives way under my weight, flinging myself down the corridor. I sail across the pit, slamming into the far side, scrambling to get hold. Dirt and debris tumble past me down into the darkness and I dig my fingers into the cracks in the rock floor, my knees banging into the wall. Finally, knuckles and knees bloodied, I catch myself. Oops.. heh heh. Ooo skeletons! Scoot over!
I pull myself to my feet just as Chath makes a running leap over the pit to land beside me, his momentum carrying him tumbling down the passageway to crash into a wall. He clambers to his feet, digging a sling and stone from his belt. I whirl and snatch a vial of holy water only to see Theros and Cyridon still standing at the doorway, Cyridon with his sigil held high and Theros fumbling through the many small pockets on his vest. I cannot see Balderk, though I hear him roaring as he clashes with what surely must be more wet, bloody skeletons.
Theros spots Chath and me several yards down the hidden hallway and runs to join us. Just as I shout to warn him of the pit, I hear a bamf and feel my ears pop at the odd rushing of wind, and Theros seems to flicker the last few yards to suddenly appear before me. I hear Balderk bellow in pain, and know that at least one of the skeletons got to him.
Finally, Cyridon shouts in that gravely, unearthly voice, and everything becomes still… nothing but the creaking of our armor, shuffle of our feet and the rapid heavy breathing of combat. He must have finally gotten command of them. I take a few steps and leap across the pit again, this time kicking the lever down to lock the swinging plates into place. I throw Chath a dirty look as he ambles across.
Five dripping red skeletons stand dumbly, their arms limp at their sides, and Balderk and Cyridon stand amidst them. I roll my eyes a bit, because I know what’s coming next. We can’t slay them like this, he says. Go figure. I can slay them like this just fine. I figure they’re already dead, and really we’d be doing them a favor.
But instead we work out a plan, involving several vials of holy water, Balderk’s flail, Theros’ staff, a layer of protective shells cast by the mage, and an organized leapfrogging down the hall. Once we’re set, Cyridon releases the skeletons and we take them out one at a time.
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