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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Whizbang Dustyboots" data-source="post: 3664074" data-attributes="member: 11760">Emmerson's challenge is met with the sound of Artos laughing somewhere above them. The undead knight says a few words and there's the sound of something scraping across the floor. A moment later, a pile of moth-eaten old blankets drops to the floor below the trapdoor, a cloud of dust exploding from it.As the dust clears, the adventurers can see a bony figure dropping onto the blanket, and rising back up, coming toward them, glowing long sword at the ready, as another skeleton appears at the trapdoor, ready to follow.The skeleton slashes at Emmerson, as it approaches, cutting him deeply.Tucker's flail goes wide, but Emmerson's warhammer does not, and it shatters the skeleton, just as the next skeleton tumbles down and approaches, banging its long sword against its wooden shield as it comes at Emmerson.Another pale figure appears at the trap door, apparently preparing to drop."Tucker, watch the line," Emmerson says, hissing between his teeth. Eyeing his wound and steps back, reaching for the ankh-crucifix around his neck with a bloody hand and murmuring a prayer."If I keep swinging wide like this, 'watching' the line is about all I can do," Tucker snaps.He and Hazel move toward the next skeleton as it lands on the pile of blankets and advances on them.Tucker lashes out with his flail, catching one of the approaching skeleton's leg bones before it can reach Emmerson. He yanks the skeleton off its feet with a clatter of bone on stone floor.Hazel makes a wordless grunt, lashing out at the skeleton with one end of her quarterstaff, and then the other, each blow slamming against the helpless skeleton. Whatever it was that animated the long-dead adventurer dissipates, and shatters into a mass of bone and semi-decayed gear.A third skeleton drops to the floor and as it rises, it feints with both ends of its quarterstaff, as though mocking Hazel as it moves towards Emmerson.Over by the door, Bufer, Vonmora, Flower and Oktav all look up as they hear something thump loudly, like a door that has not been opened in a very long time being slammed open."Well, that can't be good!" Bufer observes."NACHTMANN, WILL ROTTED UNDERLINGS DO YOUR DIRTY WORK?" Emmerson roars, reinvigorated by his prayer. "COME DOWN AND FACE ME!""AND IF YOU HAPPEN TO NOTICE A BLACK LEATHER BOOK WHILE YOU'RE UP THERE, BRING IT WITH YOU!" Bufer adds.Oktav forgets to be frightened just long enough to look down at Bufer in surprise."What?" Bufer shrugs. "It can't hurt to try!""They're going to come in the door," Flower says nervously.Tucker kicks at the bones on the floor, scattering them around a bit. Since the approaching skeleton has a longer reach than he does, he makes sure his shield is up as he again strikes at its ankles."There must be an exit on the second floor! Emmerson, push one of those beds across the door!""This one-at-a-time crap is just a distraction!" Emus barks, heading for the door. "The kobold just saved us an ambush, I'm betting.""Well done, lad," Bufer smiles grimly at Flower. "If we get out of this alive, I owe you an ale. Keep an eye on the professor. And you," he jabs a finger at Oktav, "Don't go nowhere!"Back at the trapdoor, Tucker neatly sweeps the advancing skeleton off its feet with his flail, just as he did the last skeleton.Flower's sling stone spins to a stop harmlessly between the deputy's feet. The kobold's filthy dire rat darts through his legs a moment after, biting frantically at an exposed bone. Amazingly, this seems to have some small effect on the undead wizard.Hazel finishes off the skeleton with another one-two blow from her quarterstaff.Over at the door, the group can see a thin-bladed steel dagger sliding up between the double doors where Artos is trying to pry off the bar. His bony shadow is visible beneath the door and in the crack between the two doors and the very air around the entrance seems to radiate despair and hopelessness."Emus, you got your flask of holy water handy?" Bufer asks as he watches the dagger blade sliding up the seam between the doors, a sudden idea coming to him. "There's a variation on an old practical joke I want try!""Not so brave now, little paladin?" Artos growls through the door. "I had no idea there was a window in the attic until you sent me and my servants up the ladder with your trick. But there was."Outside, there's a renewed sound of the ravens flapping and cawing again, but this time, the sound is carrying through the trapdoor at the end of the dormitory as well."Oh, look at that: The birds have spotted the open window.""Oh, damn!" Emus yells, throwing his backpack off of his shoulders and starts digging around inside. "Emmerson! Tucker! Hazel! Close the trapdoor!"Get all the birds in one place, and then see how they like this!" Emus pulls a small bomb out of his backpack. "I told you gunpowder was a good idea!"</blockquote>

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