"Sir," Asano bows, then approaches the apparition to a respectful distance. "We have heard disturbing rumors of activity from this tomb. Our intent is not to disturb the rest of the honored dead, but simply to ensure that none of less honorable leanings have interfered with those interred. May we pass in peace, so long as we do not disturb the rest of those below?"

OOC:
Persuasion- 21

"You may pass in peace, intruder, back the way you came and out of the tomb." The ghost points a skeletal finger towards the exit.

I can see that a stalwart defender such as yourself would not let anything by without a fight," Asano offers a gracious bow to the ghostly warden. "Has aught beside ourselves been in this entryway perhaps? Some creature had set a warning device above the outer door, and I worry that such a creature may return with power enough to force it's way into the chambers of the hallowed dead." Asano speaks graciously, smoothly, the honeyed tongue of a nobleman clearly hidden behind his smiling lips.

"I do not concern myself with the identities of trespassing lowlifes," the ghost sneers. "Occasionally those like yourselves enter the tomb, and I drive them off. They are of no consequence."

Jak toppled backwards with a muffled cry of surprise as the being came out THROUGH the door and almost into him. He quickly scrambled backwards from the door and the figure, eyes very wide. He swallowed as Asano broke the tension and ice by speaking to it. Finally, he shook his head. "An' none've made it past ya? Okay. Um. Thanks, I guess."

He picked himself up and brushed himself off before moving back to the corridor leading away from the door and ghost thing. "So. Time t'go?"

The floating figure looks at Jak but says nothing.

Morg moves back a few feet from the ghost, and in a shaky voice says "Bram, do you know if this place is consecrated? Is this ghost good?"

---

Rolled a secret insight check on the ghost. (My secret rolls are just for timing reasons: in a face-to-face game others might ask if they can also do the check, before hearing if the DM said it was okay and before hearing what I rolled. In PBFs the timing can come off as trying the check after it's known the check failed.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:26, Fri 23 Dec 2016.

Bram stood stunned for several moments after the appearance of the spirit, entirely fascinated by the sight of it.  He nodded to Morg, then approached the specter at a respectful distance.  He put a fist to his breast and addressed the guardian, "Noble spirit, I am here in my capacity as a Glyphscribe in the service of Deneir.  We do not come to disturb the dead, but to know who they were.  Tell me of the great persons here intered and I shall take their tale with me and ensure that it is remembered."  As he spoke he cast his senses toward the divine energies emanating from this being, in hopes of determining what exactly it was.

---

Doing another Divine Sense to see what that might tell me, and also an insight check:

01:23, Today: Bramwell Caulder rolled 13 using 1d20.  Insight.

The ghostly form's expression lightens slightly. "I remember little of my master, Glyphscribe, only that he was of nobler birth than you and ruled in the kingdom of Rilithar. And that he was a fine warrior. In life I failed to protect him, yet in death I shield his rest from lessers who would pick his carcass clean."

His face hardens again as he brandishes his longsword. "Leave this place now or suffer my vengeance."

---

Third time's the charm! From using Divine Sense you know this is an undead creature. You don't sense any consecrations/desecrations.

Re: insight,  Bram thinks this specter is basically what he appears to be - a rather condescending spirit guarding the tomb from trespassers.

 

Bram bowed to the spirit guardian and backed away carefully.  To the others he said, "This is indeed a spirit charged with guarding this crypt, and I sense no evil intent in it.  He is just as he says, nothing more and nothing less.  We'd be well advised to leave it be and seal the entrance."

"Sounds like our safest bet here." Mayon agrees softly, having watched the exchange in silence. No goblins to be found, and the thought of angering the undead isn't exactly appealing. He turns to the ghost, dipping his head respectfully. "Apologies for disturbing you. I can see this tomb is well-guarded from goblins and thieves alike, and that you have no need of us. We will leave you be."

Morg climbs off the table, clearly relieved, and heads out.

"This is why I never understood the waste of time to make tombs - all that building and consecrating and guarding and upkeep... If I die I'd rather it just be: decapitation, a tree on the shallow grave, and a letter to my folks" he says to Jak in the corridor.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:38, Sat 24 Dec 2016.

"It's a matter honoring those who have led worthwhile lives and accomplished amazing deeds," Asano says, exiting the tomb. He helps pull the outer entry door closed as snugly as the party is able.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:29, Sun 25 Dec 2016.

"My people also spend an inordinate amount of resources and time honoring and showing respect to the dead - but what use is that when they're dead?"

"I'd rather have built houses, than fancy tombs for the rich. I'd rather have done something productive, than stand guard for their former vanity."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:14, Sun 25 Dec 2016.

The dead soldier watches expressionless as the group retreats back down the tunnel to the outside.

As the group exits the tomb and starts sealing the entrance, an arrow suddenly embeds itself into the nearby hillside.

A deep, gravelly voice booms from behind the nearby boulders. "You're surrounded by army! Drop treasure and leave and we won't eat you."

---

Map updated - feel free to set your starting position around the door differently; I just moved everyone out of the tomb pretty much willy-nilly.

And Merry Christmas!
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:38, Sun 25 Dec 2016.

"Of course it couldn't be so simple." Mayon mutters to himself, looking around to try and catch sight of the attackers. He speaks up a bit for the others near him. "Probably the goblins that baker mentioned to Bram and I. What do we tell them?"


12:57, Today: Secret Roll: Mayon Graycross rolled 16 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 12.  Perception. Trying to look for the attackers/probably goblins.
Numbers disappeared again, boss. This map is picky apparently :P
Blech, can't say I'm a fan of the Christmas layout for the site. Festive, true, but it looks so strange.

Asano turns from the door, his focus whipping up from his belt into his hand. He scans the area surrounding the tomb, searching for anyone that may be hiding nearby.

OOC:
Perception- 20
My position looks fine, bossman.

Bram was first out of the tomb, because even though he wished to study the guardian specter further he also understood that the subject would not have allowed it.  He was a few strides out from the threshold and gauging the time from the sun's position when the gravelly voice accosted them.  His brow furrowed at the interrogator's wording as he raised his shield to his arm.  He nodded in agreement with Mayon's guess that these were goblins, considered for a moment, then flashed his comrades a surreptitious wink.  He called out in feigned alarm and defeat, "Curses!  They've really got us, boys.  Very well, we'll drop all the treasure in a pile for you, if you'll come forward collect it."  He raised his free hand palm out in a gesture of peace, but kept ready to reach for the axe hung from his belt.  If this 'army' were smart they'd have asked for weapons first.

---

OOC:  Can't see any labels on the grid, but I'd like to be 3 squares left of where Mayon is currently.

12:56, Today: Bramwell Caulder rolled 18 using 1d20+3.  Deception.

Mayon and Asano see what looks like a goblin with a bow hiding behind the tree nearby. Asano sees a larger hulking form amid the large boulders. It looks like an ogre of some kind, perhaps a half-ogre judging by its size.

There's a slight pause after Bram's reply. "Good," the reply comes back, this time in a higher pitched voice from behind the tree. "Drop the treasure where we can see it and move away slowly."

---

Sorry for the map issues, it's entirely user error. Should be fixed now.

Morg looks in the direction where he heard the voice, walks a few feet in it's direction, takes his tinderbox "treasure" and throws it a few feet ahead of him.

---

00:08, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 4 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 1.  Perception check looking for army behind nearby boulders.

The goblin pokes his head around the side of the tree and peers at the tinderbox on the ground.

"Move back out of the way, I can't see it," the goblin screeches. "What is it anyway?"

---

Morg doesn't see any other figures in the nearby boulders.

Jak sighed and shook his head. First the tomb had a guardian and they backed away from that - which was fine and he was fine with! There was no need to disturb a tomb, probably, or whatever. But now a goblin and a half-ogre were shaking them down? That was just too much to take. Bram was hamming a bit and Morg joined in. Jak shrugged as he fished out a few copper pieces.

"Okay, okay, m'goin', m'goin'!"

He hurried out of the cave and dropped some shiny pieces of coin near the tinderbox as he moved to cover.

OOC: Dash and move to AD21, dropping 3 copper next to the tinderbox as he moves past.

Asano quietly drops his backpack near the rest of the party's gear, and after a second thought drops his money pouch as noisily as possible, as well. He follows with the rest of the party as they move back, staying near the back, his wand staying down near his leg as much as possible.

Mayon drops his own coin pouch and bag on the pile, stepping back with the group. He pulls on his gloves quietly, keeping the crystal focus concealed facing towards him to hide the faint glimmer.

"Ok, now we're talking," the goblin screeches. "Keep moving back, out of sight, and count to a bazillion."