Chapter 2: One Bad Apple

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Apr 18, 2025 1:59 pm
Tzal sighed, "Fine! You have a point. Let's explore the other areas and hope they don't flank us. I can see a hole on the opposite wall, and it probably leads to somewhere. But, we can explore that later."
Apr 18, 2025 9:56 pm
Pausing, R3N-L3 examined the skeletons silently for a few seconds. Then, abruptly, he inclined his head in their direction. "Good bye, cousins. I will free you shortly." However, he would return with the group to explore the other places that didn't have likely animate skeletons with axes. Even if they were allegedly kin in some manner.
Apr 18, 2025 10:09 pm
You return to the entry hall and head down the secret stairs. After the landing, the stairs descend into a long room. A stone idol of some monstrous thing covered in bulging eyeballs commands the south wall. A dozen rolled up prayer rugs rest against the north wall. The east wall holds a mural that depicts the being the idol represents razing a city, while the west wall has been painted black.

Another flight of descending stairs exits the room to the east.
Apr 19, 2025 9:47 am
Tzal scratched his beard and looked at the grotesque idol, "Weird and dangerous things! What was this place even for? Whatever religion this priest practiced, I don't think it was a glorious one." He turned and eyed the mural on the wall that depicted razed cities, "Lauretta, what do you make of prayer rugs on the wall? Is this a pagan religion?"
Apr 19, 2025 1:58 pm
"I don't like this. Feels wrong," Wolfram remarks as he waits for Lauretta's answer. Perhaps if they knew more about the religion or lack thereof it would help with their strategy.
Apr 19, 2025 7:40 pm
Walking back the way they came, Lauretta pondered the implications of R3N-L3's comment. She came to the conclusion that all Wizard Creations being dead might be for the best after all. Killing them could be considered the noble thing to do if their bodies are a prison.
The room they entered after the landing left a strong enough impression that the whole train of thought had vanished. She wasn't sure if she found the mural or the idol more repulsive.

"I don't want to give whatever this is the dignity of calling it a religion. When I was a young girl, I believed the Old Faith was a backwards, barbaric religion. This disgusting thing puts that rebelliousness to shame. I'd say there's a good reason why it's all sitting in a hole in the ground that some monsters carved out a thousand years ago. I'd say we don't touch any of it lest we be the victims of some ancient curse, as you warned earlier, Tzal."

The priest averts her eyes, moving on to the next stairwell.
Apr 19, 2025 7:57 pm
"Gods do not exist in a relevant form compared to what the Wizard wrought." R3N-L3 put in obscurely as his two cents about religion. He didn't appear to recognize or linger on the strange mural, merely passing it by as if the wall was blank.
Apr 21, 2025 12:11 pm
The stairs lead down to another room. A sarcophagus rests on the floor at the center of this room. The ceiling bulges with eyes all pointed at the casket. The air in the room is about ten degrees colder than elsewhere in the tomb. There are no other exits.

The sacrophagus lid bears the likeness of a robed humanoid figure with empty eye sockets and arms crossed, palms up. In the palm of each hand is a painted eye.
OOC:
A combined total Strength of 20 is sufficient to push the lid aside.
Apr 21, 2025 1:53 pm
Tzal looked at the sarcophagus curiously, "Well, well, now this is something. Who knows what we will find underneath? This sarcophagus seems quite sturdy." He tapped the eyes on the hand gently with the end of his staff.
Apr 21, 2025 3:51 pm
"I'd say it looks like a fancy coffin that a gem-stealing cultist could be buried in. Renly, come help me open the damned thing."

Lauretta scowls at the sarcophagus and approaches it. Putting her axe away, her hands move to the lid as she puts her body weight into pushing it off.
Apr 21, 2025 5:51 pm
After a second of watching, R3N-L3 moved in to help as well, allowing the lid to begin moving off. "As this is the place of the deceased, is grave robbery not considered to be against your religious tenets?" The clockwork questioned in his usual monotone.
Apr 21, 2025 6:39 pm
The sarcophagus lid slides aside, revealing a skeletal man in rotting robes. A long sword rests to one side and a dagger sits on the other. Above the corpse's head is a papyrus scroll. Held between the skeleton's teeth is a cat’s eye agate. This appears to be the gem Salty Lemon tasked you to find!
Apr 21, 2025 6:56 pm
"Once we pick it up, something bad will happen." R3N-L3 announced. He wasn't a prophet by any means, but he knew what happened to grave robbers. He reached out with one metal gauntlet, pausing with his hand inches away from the agate to look at the others. "Do you wish for it to commence?"
Apr 21, 2025 7:10 pm
"By all means," Wolfram replies, while stepping back a few paces and drawing his dagger. He tried hard to ignore the myriad of eyes staring at him and everywhere else. It certainly was a common theme in this place.
Apr 21, 2025 7:33 pm
The clockwork's question of her faith's principles elicited a snort of dry amusement.

"To be frank, it hadn't really occurred to me. The eight virtues of the High One don't condemn specific sins, such as graverobbing. They're a guideline that is more broad. If we were graverobbing in a different circumstance, I'd say there are at least two virtues it would betray. Taking what one has not earned and committing an unnatural act. But I believe the High One could make an exception considering our circumstances. This place is foul and shouldn't be protected. The gem is to save lives."

Lauretta looked over the remains unhappily. While there was relief that they had found what they were looking for, the fact remained that she believed R3N-L3 was right about the repercussions.

"Aye, something awful will happen, but there's no time to waste."

The priest brandished her axe.
Last edited April 22, 2025 10:48 am
Apr 22, 2025 6:49 am
Tzal tore several pages from his blank books and made a makeshift wrap, giving it to R3N-L3. "You know, I have seen you are resistant to magic, and hopefully with the wrap you can take out the gem without any problems."
Apr 22, 2025 10:39 am
You prepare yourselves as R3N-L3 plucks the cat's eye agate from between the skeleton's teeth. As expected, the skeleton suddenly sits up with a baleful shriek, raising its sharpened finger bones as it prepares to attack! The undead creature's mere presence is enough to inspire dread!
OOC:
Anybody who wishes to take the initiative may do so and act now! This creature has the following traits:

Protection from Magic: The death priest imposes 1 bane on rolls against it from magical effects and it rolls to resist or end magical effects with 1 boon.
Fearsome: Impose 1 bane on rolls to attack the death priest by enemies not immune to the frightened affliction.
Apr 22, 2025 12:16 pm
Tzal was taken aback but he quickly pointed his staff and created a jellyfish out of water, sending it to the undead corpse, "Stand back! It is animated from it's cursed sleep!"
OOC:
Does Protection from magic impose bane on magical attack or magical status effect? I am rolling without bane, but if its the attack rolls then you can deduct the bane from it. I don't think a 10 will hit.
Last edited April 22, 2025 12:17 pm

Rolls

Will (flying jellyfish) - (1d20+3)

(7) + 3 = 10

Apr 22, 2025 3:55 pm
OOC:
Funnily enough, R3N-L3 isn't immune to a jumpscare!
Even though R3N-L3 expected it, the fear of a corpse suddenly awakening still existed even when bound into a living suit of armor, and the clockwork paused for a few seconds, before jabbing tentatively at it like someone dropping a napkin over a cockroach to squish it without seeing the mess of innards.
OOC:
11 damage, 5 if no crit
Last edited April 22, 2025 3:56 pm

Rolls

Attack with Blade - (1d20+4)

(17) + 4 = 21

Damage rollx1 - (3d6)

(326) = 11

Damage rollx2 - (3d6)

(243) = 9

Apr 22, 2025 4:36 pm
OOC:
Protection from Magic affects anything magical. Spells, talents with the "(Magical)" notation, magical items, etc. So Tzal's spells are affected here. Although I do have an uncertainty of my own. My Arcane Warrior talent is (Magical), but technically it is not what I'd use to roll against the creature. It serves as a modifier for my attacks. Would my attacks count as (Magical) due to Arcane Warrior? It's unclear. Similarly, would my use of Battle Blessing here make other attacks magical? Requires a judgment call. Personally, I'd assume it would be the intent for them to be considered magical. If so, Battle Blessing still results in a net gain of 1 boon.
Lauretta flinched as the wretched shriek of the rising dead pierced her resolve. Her years of trained battle instinct clashed with the fear that the skeletal horror commanded. The power provided by her faith soon arrived as reinforcements.

"We are agents of the one true God! Perish, demon!"

The familiar golden aura of the heavens fell upon the room, wreathing the priest and her allies in its power. A godly influence flowed into them, silencing all fear.
[ +- ] Tradition Talent: Battle Blessing (Magical)
Last edited April 22, 2025 4:37 pm
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