The First Step

[Ryfte]

DESCRIPTION Elia is a small kobold, well, a dragon really, barely over 2' tall with a tail that is actually a bit longer than she is tall. Her scales are purple, violet, and pink shades, quite vibrant, and her eyes are a luminous aqua blue-green (heavy on the blue). Her fins are more flexible than that of standard kobolds with stronger, more controlled support spines that allow her to flex and relax them, giving her much better control maneuvering in water than her land-bound brethren.

Her "leather" armor, a bluish-gray toned material is rough to the touch, covered in small cartilage ridges from the sea eel its crafted from.| SHEETElia Argus
Female, Neutral Good, Dragonwrought Water Kobold, Warlock 1

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AC/TAC/FFAC: 19/15/15 | HP: 6/6 | S/D/C/I/W/C: -2/+4/+0/+1/+0/+3 | F/R/W: +0/+4/+2 | Move: 30', Swim 30', Climb 20'
Darkvision 60', DR 2 / Cold Iron, Eldritch Blast 60' RTA 1d6 (20/x2)

---

Elia had been so fascinated by the amulet that she'd almost forgotten to pass it back to Roy. Moments before stepping on the lift she remembered. She tapped on his armor gently to get his attention as she held the amulet up to give back to the heavily armored man. "Thank you si... uhhh... Roy. Its a wonderful amulet. Lot's of fun too. Maybe someday..." She glanced at it wistfully but it wasn't hers to keep and knew that something so precious was quite valuable indeed. After all, water in a desert had value nothing else could match.

---

"Oh, oh! Berries. Can I have a berry?" Her eyes get bigger and she fidgets in place as Chira mentions the berries. She gently takes one as the other woman holds out her hand with the small pile of fruit. "I love berries and pears. Pears are my favorite. They are good. Yes! Do you have pears too?" She pauses for a moment before rummaging in her shoulder sack.

The small, vibrantly colored kobold woman pulls out and holds up an oddly shaped small lantern proudly. Crafted from a conch shell, polished, with exceedingly reflective inner surfaces, it has a hook and short fish-bone pole just over a foot long. "I've got a lantern too for when those who need light need another. Along with 3 pouches of fish oil for it too!" She grinned as she tucked it back into her sack and swung it around on her shoulder.

Without pause she hooked another strap across her bag the other way so that the bundle was snug against her body. "I can hold the light. I only need one hand for shooting." She walked up the side of the nearby wall casually, stuck tight, like an oversized spider. "I can even hold it up above too. Stay out of big people's feets."

---

OoC

 

Edited March 1, 2023 by Ryfte (see edit history)

[Ruess]

Resolutions

The lights drive away the cold and the shadows enough to let you observe the world you have intruded upon.

Fire has been through here. The calm sandy hues that were built to form a resting place, both the caskets and the support structure bear heavy marks of darkening and soot upon them, as do the runes you already identified as caressed by fire. The shadows flee from your light as you take a moment to find your bearings and to check the map Roy provided you. It will be at least two hundred feet forward, possibly more. 

Looking up from the map and into the light around you, you can see that you will pass through the resting places of a great many people. To your left, there are doors and sealed tombs. To your right. there are doors and sealed tombs. Both sides feature someone's final resting place every ten feet or so, and a support pillar in their midst ever so often. Doors are sparsely positioned, sneakily settled into the pillars. 

Throughout all this you hear neither wind nor echoes. Not a single noise reaches you from the darkness. Not even the tiniest clik of underground creatures. The only sounds that your ears can pick up are your own breath, the creak of everyone's gear as they shift, and their voices. The latter fades into whispers inevitably, without echoing even once.

 

 

You proceed.

Step by step, with care, you proceed. For a moment, as you leave the lift behind, you pause as group when you believe a sound rushes by. Yet nothing comes of it.

Thus. you press forwards. The bright lights you carry do much to reveal that the fire scorched only the caskets and doors in the immediacy of the lift. The others that are farther have gone untouched. The runes, markings and carvings are untouched, and thus they are intact.

You could try to examine them, if you take the time to do so, or you can press on.

 

Your footsteps take you forward - forwards enough that only those with extensive darkvision can perceive the lift. They also perceive a set of large doors looming ahead. Those who do not are left with the disquiet of seeing tombs ahead and tombs behind, with nothing to mark their passage save for the party's formation. 

If you were to get lost, you suspect it would end poorly.

[Amoren]

Character Sheet

Kaldakaczil
Male Lawful Good Gold Dragon 1, Level 1, Init 1, HP 14/14, Speed 30ft, Swim 30ft
AC 11, Touch 11, Flat-footed 10, Fort 4, Ref 3, Will 1, Base Attack Bonus 1   
  Bite  +4 (1d8+4, x2)
  Unarmored (+1 Dex)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 14
Conditions None

The dragon gave an indignant frown to being used as a pack mule by the cleric... but... Well, it was convenient to have something to put stuff in. Like the berries the bat handed out! Of which Kaldakaczil would take at least two, pocketing them into the bag for now. He'll chew on them later, or at least store them for others if needed.

Making their way forward, the curious dragon would give the markings a cursory examination, at least if he was given the time too before being hurried along by the rest of the party. When his keen eyes caught sight of the door up ahead, illuminated by the light or his exceptionally good dark vision, he'd hiss a quiet murmur to the party, "The door's up ahead and looks closed still. Maybe that's a good sign..? Although... Where would the attackers have come up from if not through that door."

---

 

[ArcaneDesperado]

Doallyn McClare

Character Sheet

Male Neutral Good  Human Wizard,

Init +1 

HP: 5/5 

Speed: 30

AC: 11

Touch: 11 / Flat-footed: 10,

Fort +1 / Ref +1 / Will +3

Base Attack Bonus: +0

Abilities: Str 10, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 17, Wis 12, Cha 14
 

 

Doallyn had taken the one sunrod he had been asked to carry and secured it into his backpack so the top illuminated part of it poked out like a glowing bright antenna.  It'd keep the light up higher and make sure to keep as many hands free as possible.  If the situation was different he'd enjoy being able to sit down and examine the runes and other markings for hours.  However they had a task to do. It was also a task that could potentially provide answers to what was going with these visions and how they had affected his grandfather. 

Approaching the doors he looked them over to see if anything was recognizable.

 

[Chaz Hoosier]

Robin Kirkko

"I wonder where these doors lead. Tombs, I suppose." He looks the side doors over as they pass, just in case.

 

 

 

 

---

Description

Robin is a straw haired tomcat. He is tall, strapping, and handsome, with blonde hair carefully tousled for a rakish look, blue eyes, and a strong jaw. He always dresses in clothes that show off his physique. He is, as one would expect of a cleric of Sune, incredibly vain and considers his hair his best feature. His focus on superficial matters might give the impression that he isn't all that bright. One the other hand, be sincerely sees the beauty in other people--whether outer beauty or inner beauty. He carries a shield depicting the face of a beautiful red haired maiden, and has a rosary of glass beads with the same symbol on the end dangling from his belt.

Stat Block

Robin Kirkko
M CG Human Cleric, Level 1, Init 0, HP 9/9, Speed 30
AC 14, Touch 10, Flat-footed 14, Fort 3, Ref 0, Will 2, Base Attack Bonus 0   
  Morning Star  +2 (1d8+2, x2)
  Dagger   (1d4, 19–20/×2)
  Crossbow, light (Bolts (20)) 0 (1d8, 19–20/×2)
  Studded Leather Armor, Light Wooden Shield (+3 Armor, +1 Shield)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 14
Condition None

OOC

 

Edited March 3, 2023 by Chaz Hoosier (see edit history)

[Wiz]

Chira looks around carefully, keeping an eye on things as the door was approached.  "Closed it is, whether open it will, we shall have to find."  The druid replaces the extra berries in a pouch as they approach the ominous-looking portal.

[IWantBapo]

Lucas Léonide BlaiseAge 26 | Height 6''0 | Weight 126 lbs. | Hair Blonde | Eyes Gold | Complexion Fair skinned

This male appears to be between five foot nine and six feet, he is clad in scaled-mail baring the symbol of St Cuthbert; god of retribution. His hair is blonde reaching down as far as the edge of his ears with no curls or knots, though the subtle glint of oil portrays a lack of hygiene. Rounded features specifically around his nose, chin, and eyes give the impression that his origins are initially human, despite his unusual birth as an Aasimar.

His equipment consists of the aforementioned scaled-mail which is strapped over a green doublet with a second layer of brown leathers. His shoulders carry the straps of a backpack that appears to be full of various odds and ends; the outer layer consisting of iron buckles, a bedroll, and waterskin all strapped neatly against the burlap folds. His belt has two pouches that lay strapped shut, just beyond them is the hilt of a battleaxe on his right side. | "My Speech" | 'My thoughts' | My actions.

Male Lawful Good Lesser Aasimar 1, Level 1, Init 3, HP 12/12, Speed 30ft
AC 19, Touch 13, Flat-footed 16, Fort 4, Ref 3, Will 2, Base Attack Bonus +1  
Abilities Str 14, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 14
Conditions None

Maneuver Grid

Known Maneuvers	Numerical Value
CRUSADER’S STRIKE	1
VANGUARD STRIKE	2
STONE BONES	3
LEADING THE ATTACK	4
CHARGING MINOTAUR	5

 

---

In response to Robin, Lucas breaks the silence he had been maintaining up until now. "Considering how dangerous this place is supposed to be, I can only assume its trapped in some way .. I don't suppose someone is knowledgeable of trap mechanics?" The doors loomed ahead of him, ominously lit by the various flickering of lights carried by the party; feeling unprepared, he reaches for his shield.

[Ruess]

Resolutions

Kaldakaczil draws a blank on the rune things. But not on what lies ahead! Some sixty feet and change of distance dead ahead there comes an ending to this long stretch of a corridor in the shape of a large pair of doors made with great care. At a quick estimation they are made of stone, sandstone it looks like, and they look like the art on the doors features two troopers in full armor. The door handles look to be an painted and carved so it bears some resemblance to an out stretched arm, and the door itself is painted to depict a massive tower shield.

Doallyn, being a man of education, can confirm that the painter knew their armory. The suits of armor and the likeness of the tower shields are fairly accurate. The minor details are missing, as is reasonable since you can't capture an armor's exactness, and by their decorative nature Doallyn can confirm these two were somebodies of import. Maybe watch officers, or temple guards.

Based on what Roy told you, and also according to the sketched map, this is where the Old Watcher should be resting.

 

Robin

As Robin follows his companions he glanced about and while it was a quick look it is enough that he can confirm these are properly buried people - more or less exactly as Robin was taught is the custome is a city this large. They look to be intact and untouched.

 

Chira

Chira surveys the doors with her full senses and can tell they look well, these two troopers who stand watch as doors. Someone tried to capture their likeness as they were in life.

 

[ArcaneDesperado]

Doallyn McClare

Character Sheet

Male Neutral Good  Human Wizard,

Init +1 

HP: 5/5 

Speed: 30

AC: 11

Touch: 11 / Flat-footed: 10,

Fort +1 / Ref +1 / Will +3

Base Attack Bonus: +0

Abilities: Str 10, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 17, Wis 12, Cha 14
 

 

Doallyn looked over the doors taking in the designs. 

Well it might be a bit on the nose, but the suits of armour are most likely watch guard.  If we're looking for "The Old Watcher" that seems to be a pretty direction correlation.  One way or the other, its someone important. 

He paused for a moment and glanced at the others. 

Do we do the polite thing and knock first? 

The comment was half serious and half joking.  

 

Edited March 6, 2023 by ArcaneDesperado (see edit history)

[Wiz]

Chira pauses, holding up one of her hands, "Wait, something not right I sense...  Fresh smoke I smell, from a fire nearby it is..."

[Amoren]

Character Sheet

Kaldakaczil
Male Lawful Good Gold Dragon 1, Level 1, Init 1, HP 14/14, Speed 30ft, Swim 30ft
AC 11, Touch 11, Flat-footed 10, Fort 4, Ref 3, Will 1, Base Attack Bonus 1   
  Bite  +4 (1d8+4, x2)
  Unarmored (+1 Dex)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 14
Conditions None

---

"Fire?" the dragon inquired, glancing towards Lucas and Doallyn before making his way adjacent to one of the giant doors. "If there's a fire burning its likely trying to destroy the Watcher! We should hurry, then. I can open the door in case the flames lash out without fear."

He would wait for the others to give the go ahead, and if so when everyone was in position, rear up on his hind legs to press his forward pair against the door and try to open the doors by pressing or pulling his weight (depending on how the doors opened). If not, the dragon would defer to the advisement of the others, seeming to pay particular heed to Lucas' direction, followed by Robin and Doallyn.

Edited March 8, 2023 by Amoren (see edit history)

[Chaz Hoosier]

Robin Kirkko

Robin gets into position, shield and weapon ready. "OK, we're ready!"

 

 

 

 

---

Description

Robin is a straw haired tomcat. He is tall, strapping, and handsome, with blonde hair carefully tousled for a rakish look, blue eyes, and a strong jaw. He always dresses in clothes that show off his physique. He is, as one would expect of a cleric of Sune, incredibly vain and considers his hair his best feature. His focus on superficial matters might give the impression that he isn't all that bright. One the other hand, be sincerely sees the beauty in other people--whether outer beauty or inner beauty. He carries a shield depicting the face of a beautiful red haired maiden, and has a rosary of glass beads with the same symbol on the end dangling from his belt.

Stat Block

Robin Kirkko
M CG Human Cleric, Level 1, Init 0, HP 9/9, Speed 30
AC 14, Touch 10, Flat-footed 14, Fort 3, Ref 0, Will 2, Base Attack Bonus 0   
  Morning Star  +2 (1d8+2, x2)
  Dagger   (1d4, 19–20/×2)
  Crossbow, light (Bolts (20)) 0 (1d8, 19–20/×2)
  Studded Leather Armor, Light Wooden Shield (+3 Armor, +1 Shield)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 14
Condition None

OOC

 

[IWantBapo]

Lucas Léonide BlaiseAge 26 | Height 6''0 | Weight 126 lbs. | Hair Blonde | Eyes Gold | Complexion Fair skinned

This male appears to be between five foot nine and six feet, he is clad in scaled-mail baring the symbol of St Cuthbert; god of retribution. His hair is blonde reaching down as far as the edge of his ears with no curls or knots, though the subtle glint of oil portrays a lack of hygiene. Rounded features specifically around his nose, chin, and eyes give the impression that his origins are initially human, despite his unusual birth as an Aasimar.

His equipment consists of the aforementioned scaled-mail which is strapped over a green doublet with a second layer of brown leathers. His shoulders carry the straps of a backpack that appears to be full of various odds and ends; the outer layer consisting of iron buckles, a bedroll, and waterskin all strapped neatly against the burlap folds. His belt has two pouches that lay strapped shut, just beyond them is the hilt of a battleaxe on his right side. | "My Speech" | 'My thoughts' | My actions.

Male Lawful Good Lesser Aasimar 1, Level 1, Init 3, HP 12/12, Speed 30ft
AC 19, Touch 13, Flat-footed 16, Fort 4, Ref 3, Will 2, Base Attack Bonus +1  
Abilities Str 14, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 14
Conditions None

Maneuver Grid

Known Maneuvers	Numerical Value
CRUSADER’S STRIKE	1
VANGUARD STRIKE	2
STONE BONES	3
LEADING THE ATTACK	4
CHARGING MINOTAUR	5

 

---

Lucas waits for his allies to prepare themselves and then approaches the large door. With resolve, he presses his shield arm against its rough exterior in an attempt to push the door ajar. With luck it would open without recourse to his persons and they would all proceed without injury. "I'll cover the dragon if he has to rush up ahead" He state with obvious intention.

[Ryfte]

DESCRIPTION Elia is a small kobold, well, a dragon really, barely over 2' tall with a tail that is actually a bit longer than she is tall. Her scales are purple, violet, and pink shades, quite vibrant, and her eyes are a luminous aqua blue-green (heavy on the blue). Her fins are more flexible than that of standard kobolds with stronger, more controlled support spines that allow her to flex and relax them, giving her much better control maneuvering in water than her land-bound brethren.

Her "leather" armor, a bluish-gray toned material is rough to the touch, covered in small cartilage ridges from the sea eel its crafted from.| SHEETElia Argus
Female, Neutral Good, Dragonwrought Water Kobold, Warlock 1

---

AC/TAC/FFAC: 19/15/15 | HP: 6/6 | S/D/C/I/W/C: -2/+4/+0/+1/+0/+3 | F/R/W: +0/+4/+2 | Move: 30', Swim 30', Climb 20'
Darkvision 60', DR 2 / Cold Iron, Eldritch Blast 60' RTA 1d6 (20/x2)

---

She'd hopped down from the wall and followed the others through the passage. As they progressed she hung back a bit more until eventually she was towards the back of the group where she remained. * Out of the way here. I am... * She smiled to herself and nodded.

Instead of approaching any closer, the little kobold hung back, and waited for the others to deal with the doorway ahead.  She waved her hands about in the heavy dust drifting through the air as she twirled about. Within moments she began to draw smiley faces and flowers in the thicker dust along the side of the wall.

---

OoC

 

[Ruess]

Resolutions

The large and the strong take to the task of opening the doors - Lucas and Kaldakaczil. The paladin provides some help and the dragon forgoes explioration in favor of a more primal solution involving his physique. 

The doors resist. The stone creaks. The hinges shift. Several noises arise from the mechanism as muscle forces aged construction to test its mettle.

You hear a crack as something breaks. Something that did not stand the test of time. And with it, near-immediately, from the other side. Voices!

 

"Boss! They're getting the door open!" a voice yells in alarm as Shade begins working the handshake mechanism. "You said it was locked!"

"It was!" answers a much reedier voice. "Hold them off! I'm almost ready!"

 

The door swings open and yields you both path and vision into the tomb. Though your point of view is limited you see enough.

There is a very large resting place, complete with a set of rising steps leading to the sarcopahgus's hiding spit. Right by where the sarcophagus is laid into rest you spy is a person, a man you think, who is possessed of very large stature and very grim state of dress: no one wears an entire suit of armor made of bones, hide and other dead materials and looks that pale unless they are up to unpleasant necromancy. He is clearly in the middle of an elaborate ritual involving waving a flail with three skulls attached to it and reciting incantations in arcane tongues.

There is also a very large fire at the foot of the stony stairs, filling the room with heat, smoke and golden-orange light, but it also casts jagged shadows all across the walls. On the steps flanking the man you see two others, men as well, dressed in similar regalia of bones and hides and suchlike, but instead of flails they have large, lit torches in their hands.

Resting within the walls and near the walls, surrounding the large tomb, you see more resting places that bear more decorations than the ones in the corridor you traversed. Several of them look to have been smashed open. The goods have been piled near the fire. You can see the glitter of gold and gems in plentiful degree when the fire's light catches on their surface.

 

You should probably do something.

 

Combat Initiative, Battlemap and Combat Conditions

The burial chamber is brightly light all over but it is also hot.

Standing within five feet of the fire will cause nonlethal damage unless you succeed on a Fortitude save of DC 12 (+1 for every round after the first)

The Large Man is wearing a strange full armor that is made of bones, more bones and even more dead remains. In his left hand there is a flail with three skulls attached to it. You would need to get closer to examine said skulls.

The Two Others are wearing less elaborate armors of bone, and wielding torches in their left hand. Their right hand is unoccupied.

 

The map is revealed in full over at Roll20

I am revealing the map to make everyone's life easier. If you abuse that to metagame I will not be happy.