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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Whizbang Dustyboots" data-source="post: 3259124" data-attributes="member: 11760">"I have a feeling we're missing something from this room," Emmerson says, nodding meaningfully toward the sarcophagus"I thought we decided we weren't grave robbers," Hazel says, looking at the owl-shaped container. "And that one seems different from the ones near the entrance. Might be a real grave, might not, but if it is, that's grave robbing, and if it ain't, might be someone pretty angry about losing his skeleton guards.""S-so ... cold ...""If we're openin' it, should w'cover our mugs?" Ragglus asks, glancing over his shoulder at the alcoves. "Far be it fer me not t'trust gigglin' statues, 'specially ones that know when they's gotta wizard crawlin' up their noses."Tosh wanders over to the statue that did a job on Renraw. Something had to trigger that response, he thinks. Maybe if he searched it over real good, there might be a trigger in evidence. The flickering torchlight moves subtle shadows across the upper surfaces of the statue. Tosh can just barely see runes very lightly carved into its surface. It might be possible to carefully -- very carefully -- fill the runes in with grit from the statue and perhaps temporarily disable the trap. Maybe."Gnome!" Renraw, his teeth chattering, plead with Bufer. "I beseech thee, gnome. Heal me. Return my strength so that I may retain my usefulness to the group. Minister my wounds and you have my sacred troth that you will not regret it."Bufer raises an eyebrow at the injured young wizard, then sighs and begins to dig his healer's kit out of his pack."If I'm to heal you, human," he says pointedly to Renraw, "It'll be on condition that, before you touch, poke, prod, examine or even look at anything else, you will ask my permission. Do we have an understanding, Kem?"Bufer pauses as he opens his healer's kit, looks up at Renraw thoughtfully, and raises one index finger at him."Oh, one more thing," Bufer says with a wry grin. "From now on, you're to call me 'sir.'""Ah, just poke him with the torch, he'll be fine," Tucker says, rolling his eyes. "Any of you mystic types want to scan the sarcophagus, or should we just open it and get ambushed again?""That's it! I cuh-couldn't place it until now. When my young cousin was but an infant ... you, gnome, your cuh-countenance ... it bears a striking ruh-resemblance ... to what he used to ... evacuate when he'd got some bad applesauce in him." Renraw adjusts himself so that he's sitting more upright and winces when he tries to put a bit of weight on his arms. "But that's neither here nor there, is it? No, the r-real issue at hand is that we've now uncovered the party has a 'healer' who only does so on his own terms. Many of us here are aware of the patronizing t-teachings of your so-called divinity, gnome, but we 'foolish humans' n-never imagined they might actually impact us in this way. Leave me in pain, if you will, servant of Glittergold, but I'll not be made to bow and scrape to an asshigh. I'm not sure it's b-bodily possible to get that low."The wizard turns his head to the group."The rest of you ... are you capable of learning from your own lapses? Or will you wait for this baseborn mongrel to decide when you've been foolish? Of course I'll be c-cautious when clambering up any forthcoming statuary, does anyone here doubt this? I prithee, do not s-sustain injury in this gnome's company ... those injuries will find themselves compounded with threats to thine own dignity."And with that Renraw feebly makes his way to his feet."Here, give me the torch - I'LL poke him with it," Tucker says, thrusting his hand at Hazel."It seems we have a statue covered with runes of some sort," Tosh says as he begins gathering up loose statue detritus. "Probably the magical sort that protects the statue from being climbed upon by human wizards, I can't be sure. I can probably cover them temporarily. Hazel, would you happen to have any of that sticky applecake left? I can probably make up some goop from the erosion off the statue that'll stick in the runes. Provided, of course, it doesn't blast me too."Hazel digs into a pocket and pulls out the crumpled cloth."About half a slice left, I expect. Probably more honey clinging to the cloth than the cake at this point." She hands the bundle over to the gnome, giving him a broad smile. "If this works, maybe mum can sell her cake as protection against magical traps.""Ah, a healer that refuses to heal and an unthinking murderer as muscle. It's a wonder the rest of us have lasted this long," Tock says as he puts himself between Renraw and Tucker. "I've long known the Gallaways to be craven gluttons, from my experiences with their women. But sadists? We'll, even in the shallow end of a pool there can be dangers, I suppose.Tock switches to Gnomish."How's the trap dismantling going? I'd have for your kinsman to refuse to heal another of us.""Aye, and if ever there was a Chandler born who could carry a tune, you wouldn't have to rifle through dead bodies' pockets under the pretext of prayer," Tucker shoots back."I find your lack of taste ... disturbing," Tock says in a monotone. "Still, were my music to be appreciated by a redneck fool, that is when I'd worry. And worry not about kobold traditions. They are a pious people and their monies are to be given back to the tribe. With so many kobold-haters around, I feared for the sanctity of the belief."Tosh seems oblivious to the row going on behind him as he graciously takes the remainder of the pastry from Hazel."It'll have to do," he says. He begins mixing the honey with a bit of water and some grit, creating a sticky paste of sorts"I have no idea," Tosh replies to Tock. "I find the thought of testing it to be slightly less disturbing than the implications of 'us' and 'them,' however."Tosh carefully begins applying the paste to fill in the eroded runes. Mutters a prayer to the 53 Gods of Chance. But the gems glow suddenly once more, and there's a sizzling noise before the nasty laughter booms through the room again. Tosh snatches his hand away quickly, uncoated in frost, but pale with cold."Well, that puts end to that. Unless you folk were spoiling to open the sarcophagus there? Might be some kobolds in need of looting, er, last rites or something."Tosh sits with his back to a statue-free wall and pulls out some linen to bandage his damaged hand."This bickering is pointless." Emmerson approaches Renraw. "I would heal you if I could, friend, but I'd have to admonish you the same way. We cannot afford to lose our collective strength, not this deep inside the barrow."I think trying to open this sarcophagus would be the height of folly, considering we have one injured wizard and one zapped rogue."The paladin turns toward the sarcophagus, clutching his crucifix and prays for guidance. Bufer looks from Renraw to Tock, and back again, then shrugs nonchalantly."No skin off my back if you value your Garl-damned 'dignity' more than your very life, Kem," he says. "I'll be sure to tell your loved -- well, any mildly interested parties, at any rate -- that you went to your grave with your pride intact. If you do happen to change your mind, though, me and my patronizing teachings will be over there. Let's hope nothin' breathes on you in the meantime."Bufer glances up at Tock."And I guarantee you, Chandler, that if you ever had attempted to had congress with my mother as it were, she would have taken one good look at your 'instrument,' such as it be, and collapsed into giggles. It's true what they say about gnomes, after all: We're built like tripods."With that, Bufer turns his back on them and walks over to crouch next to Tosh, and examine his frost-covered hands."Tsk," he says in Gnomish, as he takes over the bandage from Tosh. "Listen, lad, I know this looks bad, but I figure I've only got one good heal left in me. It's yours if you insist to me you need it, but we're a long way from this being done, and that boy's on death's door already. All things bein' equal, I'd like ta hold it in reserve, if you're apt to humor me.""It's all right, Bufer," Tosh says. "I figure even with a bit of frostbite I have a better chance of getting out of here then the big'uns when the spit hits the fan. I'm not likely to try disarming any more traps, though, and you know what they say about hungry bears and th' like. All's I got to do is run faster than the other guy. Help the young'un.""Well, not just yet," Bufer says, casting a sidelong glance at Renraw as he ties the bandage off at Tosh's right wrist, and begins tending to his other hand. "Boy needs some sense kicked into 'im, along with a strong dose of humility. That's Garl's will, I do believe. Whether it's by my hand or his own foolish stubbornness makes little difference."Bufer cocks an eyebrow at Tosh."Besides," he says, "I think it's be really funny if I got him to call me 'sir', just once."Curiosity gets the better of Tosh as he considers the other statues. Levering himself to his feet, he carefully inspects each one, avoiding touching them as he does so."It appears that our yellow-eyed adversary is the only one with the ability to defend itself," he says finally. "And apparently the only one with anything to defend. I've a feeling that if we leave them alone, they'll be inclined to do the same for us."He eyes the sarcophagus critically."Of course, if another bag of bones hops out of there, I'm going to stay well out of its reach. I couldn't do it no harm anyways."He moves off to the top of the stairwell and looks down into the darkness, flexing his injured hand a bit to get back the feeling, wincing all the while."Friends," Emmerson starts as he slowly backs away from the sarcophagus. "There is an evil presence inside the sarcophagus. Not only it still lives, but is keenly aware of our presence."I would not back away from a fight, but I do not know if we can face whatever is inside and survive. Also, I do not know if the 'guardian statue' will come to life to defend whatever dwells within the sarcophagus if we engage him in combat."What say you?""Did you happen to ask Lothian if the sarcophagus had anything valuable?" Renraw asks the paladin."Goll darnit! I told you kids that comin' in here was a right stupid thing to do!" Emus snaps. "Whatever's in this stone slab ain't hurtin' anyone as long as it's in there, an' it looks like it's jes' fine stayin' there. Sure it ain't natural, but we can't be responsible for lettin' it out if we can't keep it reined in.""Emus has the right idea - best to leave well enough alone. We don't need to stir up a hornets' nest." Hazel glances at Renraw, then Tosh. "We've already seen they can sting."She walks up to the statue, staying a respectful five feet back, and cranes her neck to look around it."If the magic uses the eyes to focus, then maybe a couple of us working together could topple the statue from behind while the others stay out of its line of sight. Of course, the statues might be part of whatever's keeping the evil trapped in its box, and then we'd feel mighty foolish the last few moments before we died.""I would touch it, were I to do it over again," Tosh says loudly, startling the others. "How do you intend to topple it without touching it? With a rope, perhaps? You'll understand if I decide not to participate, won't you?""And what's to keep the entombed evil from opening its own sarcophagus the instant our backs are turned? Come on, leave the laughing statue alone. Luck and Lothian favor the bold." Tucker approaches the sarcophagus, unnerved by his own bravado. Being extra cautious, he comes upon it from the direction the owl isn't facing. Rather than push the lid off, leaving himself open to an easy attack from within, he attempts to pull it backwards, then pauses. "Lothian also favors the swift, so be ready to bolt."Tucker feels a chill run down his spine as he realizes his back is to the now-silent statues. There is an air of waiting watchfulness in the darkened room."Evil as our host might be, he is still badly outnumbered, so we can hit him eight times to his one," Emmerson says, preparing his warhammer. "Renraw, I'd rather have you standing far from the sarcophagus and out of harm's way. Fire a spell, if you are able, but leave the hand-to-hand fighting to us."I am ready, Tucker.""I'll protect the wizard, if no one else will," Tock announces, taking Renraw by the arm and walking with him toward the shattered seal, "If only to keep the asshighs from bringing up their mothers again.""You needn't worry about me, Grant," Renraw coughs. "I'm this close to finding my own way out of here, anyway. Perhaps to find someone who'll heal me without requiring I service their ego."Tosh draws his rapier as the two humans approach, Tock's remark about gnomish mothers clearly having stung."There's a very nice bit of shadow a bit down the stairs that should hide you both. Don't let me keep you, now, hurry along." He turns toward the group surrounding the sarcophagus, then turns back as though in an afterthought.Tock puts Renraw behind him in the doorway and draws his bow and readies an arrow."Shadows can't hide this handsome face, rogue."Hazel sighs and readies her battleaxe."Fools rush in ... "Emus moves far enough away to charge if anything comes out of the sarcophagus.Ragglus squints at the sarcophagus as he lifts his shield up just so that his eyes peek over the top, sticking with his theory from earlier.Bufer grabs hold of the gold nugget hanging round his neck as he watches the Tucker intently as he makes to pop open the lid."Hey, anytime you feel the need to start servicing my ego there, Kem, you go right ahead," he tosses over his shoulder. "Just remember: Lots of spit, lots of tongue.""Yes, you do the priesthood proud, don't you?" Renraw turns to Chandler, muttering. "I clearly just told him I would not be doing that. I'm not sure how I'm even to respond to that kind of 'banter.' Vulgarity for vulgarity' sake only. Crude even for a subhuman."After a moment, Renraw realizes Tock is ignoring him as well."No offense, friend Tock, but I do hope you're not the only one to leave this place with something of value. I'd hate to think I wasted my time with these fools.""Eyes front, ladies," Ragglus barks, still watching as Tucker opens the sarcophagus. "Cut the bickering; we've got somethin' evil to be ready for."The stone lid scrapes back across the opening of the sarcophagus. By the flickering torchlight, Hazel notices that it appears to be filled with a large stone object and then the torch dims in her hand as the lid comes off, loudly slamming on the floor and Tucker grunts as he backs into solid stone.The room is darker than it was, and colder, and then the darkness opens its eyes and screams, the sound like a dying child. The eyes are yellow and burning with anger. The creature spreads its wings, wider than a man is tall, still screaming through its black beak.The other adventurers are dimly visible through the shadowy creature as it flies at Emmerson, black talons outstretched.Through the shield, Emmerson feels his arm grow cold, but he jerks it back before any lasting harm is done. The return swing of his warhammer hits nothing -- it's difficult to see where the creature is in the dimmed light and given its translucency.The sound of the creature's scream gets almost drowned out a moment as Emus races forward, howling, his greatclub whistling as it comes. The club strikes something, although the dwarf could not say what, exactly.Hazel steps forward from her vantage point and swings her battleaxe at where she thinks the creature is, her blade striking home silently.Tock lets an arrow fly, and it soars into one yellow eye of the beast, which screams even louder.Ragglus lowers his shield and swings with his flail, the heads slamming one after another into the thing.The thing's scream reaches an ear-splitting pitch and suddenly, at its loudest and highest point, stops altogether and the torchlight suddenly returns to its full brightness, seemingly almost blinding after the gloom of a moment before.Tock's arrow drops to the ground with a clatter, the wood shaft pitted and ruined. Tosh is the first to notice that Emmerson's shield likewise bears the marks of the beast: Great black streaks where its claws scrabbled at the metal shield stain it now.Of the beast itself, there is no sign. It's simply gone.</blockquote>

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