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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 4123498" data-attributes="member: 16069">Why thank you, and now some more...Dungeon Crawl Classic #3 The Mysterious Tower Level 3-5Turn 92: Coffin fit.The passage winds on and into a much much larger area, a pair of sunrods arc into the room; it’s a 50-by-50 stone chamber with a number of interesting features. First, there are open passages exiting through the middle of the south and the west walls. Second, there is a statue in the centre of the room. It’s a granite-carved image of an old, blind crone hunched with age. Third, the walls are carved with scenes of mighty wizards and warriors kneeling before the poor and humble. Fourth, there are four plain wooden coffins, one in each corner of the room. Their tops are ajar. Finally, there are five skeletons lying on the floor, one in rotting red robes beside each of the coffins, while the fifth, complete with rusting adventuring equipment, rests in front of the statue.“Meelkor again.” Cas warns and points to the statue.“Odd looking place”, Anya adds, “don’t like the bit where the Wizards have to bow to him.”Cas wanders in, Jim by his side, the Ranger crouches, examines the floor.“There’s been a fight here, some time ago but…”At that instant the four wooden coffins leap to their… bases, the two closest hop towards the Gang, their intentions are clear, the coffins warp and bend as they charge, and yet the Gang seem a little fazed by the situation.“We’re about to be attacked by… coffins.” Jim finishes.“Yesssss.” Newt agrees and scratches his chin.The other two coffins hop towards the western exit passage, although there are no members of the Goodman Gang anywhere near there.“This is all very odd.” Ala adds.“Ah well- BUFFET, and all that.” Bec wades in.Bec intercepts the first coffin, his greatsword smashes into the side of the thing, it does less damage than he thought it would, the coffin leaps at the Barbarian, tries to butt Bec in the face, it’s too slow. Jim arrives twirling his axe, but too slow, the coffin leaps back and out of the way.Newt and Anya share a glance, they want nothing to do with this, Newt tumbles into the centre of the chamber, Anya dashes the same distance, the coffins hop past them and straight for the other, heavily armed members of the Gang.“Odd.” Anya repeats.”Newt shrugs.Ala and Cas dodge forward to meet the second coffin, Ala’s longsword smashes into the side of the construct and bounces off, it takes all her skill just to keep the blade clutched in her hands. Cas menaces the coffin, which proves too quick for the Paladin, it dodges inside his sword swipe, and aims a hop-kick at Ala, the Priestess shuffles back in time.The other two coffins leave Newt and Anya well alone, hop over to the western exit and then just stand there, if that’s the right word, guarding it.“What the hell…” Newt starts.“We’ll see.” Anya strides towards them, stops a little short, and reveals a wand.“FLAME ON.”And both coffins are alight.But not moving.Ala turns around to stare at Newt, the Gnome shrugs, “I dunno. This is easy. Do it again. Do it again.” He grins.“It’s mine.” Jim yells and dances towards the coffin he and Bec are menacing, the coffin dances back, Jim nearly falls and has to duck back to avoid the things counter-attack.SMASHBec’s greatsword passes just inches over Jim’s right shoulder, he’ll have nightmares about how close it came later on, the blade connects with the coffin and turns it into splinters. The Barbarian cannot alas get to the other coffin, Ala and Cas are blocking his path.Jim dodges left past the Barbarian on his way to help the pair.Anya giggles, looks down at her wand, then back up at the smouldering coffins.“FLAME ON.”She giggles some more as both of the constructs are engulfed in fire.Neither of them move, content to stand and burn where they are.“Easy.” Anya looks back again at Newt, eager to share her triumph, but the Gnome’s no longer watching her, she follows his gaze, at the same time Newt screams.“SKELLIES. LOTS OF SKELLIES.”And tumbles backwards into an empty corner of the chamber, comes up with his heavy mace in hand, as from the southern exit emerges a column of armed and armoured Skeletons.There must be a dozen or so of the things.Meanwhile the coffin confronting Cas and Ala lunges forward causing the Priestess to take evasive action, and just in time, she swings wildly and misses by a mile, but opens up the space for Cas to strike. The Paladin smashes his longsword into the coffin, crunches into the side of the thing, the result a few wooden shards fall away, all in all a lot less damage than he expected.“BUFFET.”Bec likes the odds, head down he charges past a gawping Anya into the Skeletons, in the blink of an eye two of them are smashed to smithereens, then it all goes wrong.The Barbarian goes to strike again, steps on a wayward femur, which breaks, and loses his footing, Bec thumps to the ground. A pair of Skeletons take advantage of the situation, He blocks the first sword thrust, they’re wielding longswords, but is much too slow to prevent the second Skeleton’s attack which opens up a long gash on his upper right arm, blood pours from the wound.Ala spots the Barbarian’s predicament disengages after a glance to Jim, who leaps in to prevent the coffin from getting to her.The Priestess of Correllon marches to the centre of the chamber, unleashing her Holy Symbol as she goes.“To Dust.” Ala shouts over the noise, then mutters a short prayer.The effect is instantaneous.WHOOOOOFAnd all that’s left are the odd splinters of bone and a thick white powdery dust which twinkles in the pale light of the sunrods- all of the Skeletons are destroyed.“All gone.” Newt giggles and puts his mace away and fetches out, then loads, his crossbow. “Save the wand.” Jim shouts at Ala, and then strikes the coffin ahead of him as hard as he can, which has no affect. Cas however, once again, takes advantage- smashes the coffin facing Jim in its rear- more splinters of wood fly off. He’s whittling it down. The coffin menaces Jim, but the Ranger is too quick and leaps aside.“Bec. Bec.”Bec finally takes notice of Newt, the Gnome points at the two smouldering coffins still guarding the western exit.Bec nods and lumbers over, smashes the first of the pair to firewood, then crunches his sword into the second, smashing a gaping hole in the construct, the coffin however fights on, not very well it has to be said, more splinters of wood fly off as its forced back by the lumbering Barbarian and collides with a wall.Ala rushes over to help Cas and Jim, arrives sword drawn. Just in time to watch the coffin fail to land another blow on Jim, the Ranger rushes his attack and slices well wide. Which is just the opening Cas needs, he smashes the thing again, more splinters, however the coffin fights on.Bec lines up his next shot, takes his time, the coffin has nowhere to run, it’s being backed into a corner.CRASHBec gets his man, coffin rather, he stands there and grins, “Masta… Masta.” He mutters.Ala joins the crowd menacing the last coffin, swings and connects, what should have been a devastating blow, it has little if any, effect. The coffin sees fit to attack Jim again, it’s much too slow, however the Rangers attack is right on target, and another chunk flies off. Once again Cas is in position- he scores another hit, yet more splinters escape the now ravaged box.Bec lumbers over about to put an end to the final coffin monster.“No, leave it.” Newt shouts across, which brings the Barbarian to a sudden stop, Bec looks over to the Rogue and Anya, the Wizard shakes her head, which is good enough for him.“I’m taking bets- who’s going to land the killing blow, evens its Cas, three to one Ala, and ten to one Jim?”Bec does the sums on his fingers; it takes a moment, “Ten gold on Jim.” He wanders over with his money in hand.“Ten on Cas.” Anya states and reaches for her money.The gaggle gathers to watch the titanic battle, Jim, Cas and Ala vs. the beat up coffin monster.“Come on Cas.” Anya shouts, which causes the Paladin to momentarily pause and forget to attack.“JIM. JIM. JIM.” Bec continues.“Come on it’ll be the death of you.” Newt adds, “did you hear what I said… the death of you, it’s a coffin- get it.”Bec shakes his head. “JIM. JIM. JIM.” He continues, which is very off putting.Ala sees her opening, lances in with her longsword and connects, the blade thumps into the coffin- to no effect.“Ooooooh.” Newt offers.“Not her.” Anya yelps and then realises she’s said it out loud.Jim shoves Cas aside, it seems his competitive spirit is getting the better of him, and swings his axe with all his might. The blade thunks into the coffin but leaves not a mark.“JIM. JIM. Ohhh crap. Come on JIM.” Bec hollers.“He doesn’t stand a chance, not man enough.” She’s said it out loud again, Anya hangs her head in shame.“What’d’ya mean…” Jim starts up, “Ohhh” and then staggers backwards holding his broken nose, the first injury of the fracas to any member of the Goodman Gang.“Do you need a wooden sword?” Newt shouts over, “perhaps that would do it.” The Gnome giggles.“CAS. CAS. CAS.” Anya chants.The Paladin dodges inside his wily opponent’s, ahem a large wooden coffin- mostly hacked to pieces, guard and delivers a terrible blow, and the coffin sheds a few more splinters of wood.The three onlookers look disappointed, and a little bored with the proceedings.“Come on.” Newt calls.“Just finish it.” Anya shouts.“JIM. JIM. JIM.” Bec chants.Jim falls over.Ala steps from the pack fumbles her sword, then grabs it again, and pokes it in the general direction of the construct.POPThe back of the coffin flies out, it collapses.Newt collects his money.“Thank you, come again.”“I don’t think that helped proceedings.” Cas looks stern at Newt.“No, probably not.” Newt wanders off ignoring the Paladin.“Right then, search this place”, Jim states and gets up of the floor.And what a haul.Five minutes later the group gather, Anya’s Detect Magic spell reveals that the Warriors Skeleton near the statue was carrying a magic shortsword and shield.“I don’t want it.” Bec states again.Anya is attempting to get the Barbarian to take the shortsword.“I’ve got my dagger.” Bec shows her his magic dagger, it catches the light, shines.“But this will do more damage.” Anya states.Bec shakes his head and wanders off.“Odd.” The Wizard whispers.Cas wanders over and takes the magic shield, it looks good on him.Also in the Skeleton’s backpack is a rolled up parchment, Anya takes a look, it seems to be a picture of a sword, a wooden sword, there’s also some snippets of writing, she reads aloud-“’Humility is power’, unlikely.”“’Those who would kneel before the meek would see the meek kneel before them.’ I don’t get it.”“I think they’re sayings, words of wisdom, it sounds like Meelkor again.” Cas adds.“’With this blade should you lead the meek.’And…”“’Sword? Axe?’, can’t read the rest of that, and…”“’The legacy of Knight…’, something.”“’-Was he truly corrupt’, something, ‘The scrolls say he was,’ something, oh I get it- ‘the legends don’t.’ This is just confusing.”“’Was his the sword of the meek?’ There’s the meek again, they get everywhere, one more…”“’Finally found the tomb. Tomorrow I enter-‘, the tomb, that sounds like fun. Aren’t we supposed to be here to rescue the Wizard Balthazhar? This sounds like something completely different, what’s going on here?” Anya concludes.“Bingo. Damn.” The second word delivered in a whisper.The Goodman Gang look round to stare at Newt, he’s delving about in a space in the stone floor recently occupied by one of the coffins, he has a bag in his hand, spilling from it are a cascade of gold coins.There are three other recesses, all of them with bags of coin, one of which is full of platinum coins.“Must be over a thousand gold here.” Newt grins, “see Lord- TRESH-URR.”Cas sulks a little, “that’s not the point Newt...”“The south passage let’s see where the Skeletons came from.”Jim leads them off before the argument can begin.Next Turn: CLUUUUUUUUNK-CLICK.</blockquote>

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