Barrowmaze Part One: The Barrowmoor

[cailano]

Allen

While inspecting the skeleton, you find a tarnished gold ring that whoever plundered this tomb must have missed in their haste.

You begin to check the walls and floor with the pommel of your sword, starting with the west wall.

 

- OOC: The ring is worth 20gp if you can return it to Helix. Searching the room as described will take one turn (10 minutes) per wall. Others can help with this search to reduce the total time.

[matt_s]

Tharnakalian sees what his companion is doing and follows his lead. Tapping with his 10ft pole and whatever other tool seems to fit the task.

This is likely our last stop of the day no sense in rushing, he says.

[Raistlinmc]

Zaivie helps as well, looking high for any scary holes, looking low for any indication of trap doors and helps tap on walls with the others looking for any secret passageways.

[Malkavian Grin]

---

HP 6/6 | AC 13 | To Hit +1 | StatsStr 14
Dex 17
Con 14
Int  9
Wis 13
Cha 12 | SavesDeath/Poison.....12
Wands................13
Paralyze/Stone...14
Dragon Breath....15
Spells.................17 | Arrows x25

---

Finally able to calm his breathing, Cyrus was happy to be away from the other adventurers. He was still shaken by the event, and felt no small amount of shame from it.

"I'll hold watch here, just in case someone shows up," he said, trying to disguise his fear as guile. He then took up overwatch just outside the mound, arrow nocked on his bow.

[Sellsword]

If any of the edges of the overturned sarcophagus are sticking up, Dougal will wedge his staff under it and use it as a lever to see if he can look under the slab. Leave no stone unturned! If he's not manly enough to handle the task on his own, he'll try and recruit Zaivie to the cause.

Once that's accomplished, if there's nothing of note he'll join in with the others in an examination of the floors and walls before calling it quits for the day.

[LarsWester]

---

HP 5/5 | AC 16 | Base To Hit +1 | StatsStr 14 (+1)
Int  6 (-1)
Wis  11 (0)
Dex 16 (+2)
Con 15 (+1)
Cha 11 (0) | SavesDeath/Poison.....13
Wands................14
Paralyze/Stone..13
Dragon Breath...16
Spells.................15 | Thieves Abilities Open Locks .......25%
Remove Traps....20%
Pick Pockets.......30%
Move Silently.....25%
Climb Walls........80%
Hide...................10%
Listen.................30% | Bullets/Silver x20/5

---

Thomas descended the stairs and shook his head taking in the destruction of the sarcophagus and broken up skeleton. "Shame whoever looted this place seemed to have no respect for the dead. Ain't no reason to smash up the remains like that." Thomas gathered the bones together in a pile. Then he noticed that Black Dougal was attempting to flip the sarcophagus over and offered him a hand in doing so. Once the sarcophagus was flipped over Thomas placed the broken pieces of bone inside. Once things were settled to his satisfaction he knelt down to inspect the signs of animal life trying to discern what and how many might have been in here.

[cailano]

By 4:00, you've finished searching the burial mound. All you have to show for your efforts is the gold ring Allen located.

"Well... easy money, I guess," Tamson says. Your young guide has been doing the work you agreed upon. He hasn't gone underground with you, but he keeps a watchful eye outside and always has his bow ready.

That said, you're reasonably confident you could find your way to the Barrow Mounds now, at least by the path he showed you.

[Raistlinmc]

"Time ta 'ead back then," Zaivie says. "Thanks again fer helpin' gettin' us to an' fro these las' couple days, Tam!"

[cailano]

Back In Helix

Your return journey to Helix is uneventful. You arrive in time to sell off the grave goods you recovered and you still make it back to the Brazen Strumpet before supper gets cold.

It's a busy night at the Strumpet, and the inn is packed with armed and armored mercenaries. In addition to the Outriders of Ulek, you see two groups you haven't encountered before.

After some asking around, you learn that they are:

The Boon Companions
A group that seems younger and less grizzled than some of the others, these adventurers are led by a mage named Sly. There are only two other members, a human warrior and an elven man who would seem like more of a ranger, save that he wears a distinctive red chainmail shirt.

The Fearsome Fivesome

A disheveled group lacking the bearing of the Outriders or Bertrand's Brigands, they're led by an elven man, and two dwarven warriors provide the muscle. A cleric of St. Ygg and a petite human woman round out their party.

Another person who draws your attention is a nobleman whom people pay deference to—at least while he's looking. He has several armed bodyguards with him. The guards seem like professional soldiers, wearing matching tabards with a tower crest on a black-and-white field.

[cailano]

In addition to these notable guests, there are also several mercenaries at the Strumpet today. You recognize a couple of them from the mercenary guild. They're probably looking to hire out to one of the adventuring companies.

[Raistlinmc]

"Always nice ta make it back in one piece, eh boys?" Zaivie says, raising a glass in a toast to her companions once they'd gotten their dinner and drinks. "Let's 'ope ev'ry day is as painless as this one! Cheers!"

Edited April 10 by Raistlinmc (see edit history)

[matt_s]

Tharnakalian smiles grows as he enters the inn. A smile that had been growing since the lights of the town emerged as a fainter and then firmer suggestion from the mist of the Barrow Downs.

It sure is, and cheers to you.

It is worthwhile to keep an eye on who is around town, but what we are doing has been working out well enough - I say we keep at it in a similar way a few more goes before we start thinking about elevating our stanchions.

And we'll need to percolate a means of springing that dwarf. Don't forget about him neither...

[Ephkabey]

"Aye, a toast." Serpe raises his mug in Zaivie's direction. "You cracked that first mound today better than I ever could. Here's to you Zaivie." He also nods along in agreement with Tharnakalian, "It would be wise to take note of the competition. I'm interested in what's behind that metal door Dougal heard those others trying to get into. It sounds very different from what we've run into so far."

"Perhaps a visit to Mr. Magnificent is warranted if we can find out where he resides. He may be a studied scholar who can answer some of our looming questions."

[Raistlinmc]

Zaivie snorts back a laugh.

"Still can't believe a fella calls hisself Mr. Magnificent on purpose an' he ain't in th' circus. Craziest damned thing I ever 'eard!"

[Sellsword]

Once back at the Strumpet, Dougal will pay tribute to his friend the innkeeper. In addition to the standard two gold coins to secure a room for the night, he'll slide over an additional gold and silver piece. "Your take from our last foray into the Barrowmoors. We encountered some trouble, so didn't have as much time as we'd like. Lots of new faces in town tonight...hear anything that might be of interest?"