---

---

Kerr shook his head at Liseth.  “I don’t think I’ve EVER seen Father Zantus angry.”  He looked pensive as the party walked into the Boneyard.  “Oh,” he said, looking over the scene.  All could see that the vault in question was a 20-foot square stone structure standing near the wall.  The ceremonial seals on the tomb were broken and the door was ever-so-slightly ajar.

The dark-haired acolyte spoke a prayer and suddenly his holy symbol glowed with a bright light.  He held it up and towards the crypt in question.  “Oh,”  he said again, looking concerned and confused.  “That’s strange.  No wonder Father Zantus was so upset.”

Kerr turned to look at the others.  “That is not just some random vault.  It is the one used to house the remains of previous caretakers, priests, acolytes, and others who served at the Cathedral.”  He turned back to regard the possibly-plundered structure.  “I cannot imagine what object of value anyone could hope to find in there.”

Kerr looked over at Liseth to find her crouching low to the ground, talking with Pisca about the meaning of various tracks on the ground.  He smiled proudly; she had so many different skills!  Kerr himself couldn’t tell a bear track from a troll track, so he was happy to let the more-experienced persons present take the lead on that particular inquiry, especially when watching such persons was so very, very enjoyable.

---

---

This message was last edited by the player at 04:57, Thu 03 Oct 2013.

Kellan nodded in affirmation to the Sheriffs suggestion, leaning on bus pole axe as he watched the girls get to work. He periodically glanced this way and that as if expecting to find something unwholesome lurking behind the tomb stones or pushing up out of the hallowed ground.

"We missed you at dinner" he mentioned quietly to Alergast "Amele couldn't stand to let you out for the night?" He asked with a smirk

---

---

Alergast rolled his eyes.  "I really shouldn't be here right now."  The big guardsman responded with a sorrowful sigh.  "And I wouldn't be if Belor hadn't made things pretty clear to Amele."  Alergast laughed ruefully.  "I'll probably pay for that later."

"It's been a rough couple of evenings at our place.  Aeren saw a goblin light a dog on fire during the attack and then kill it right in front of him, so he's been having nightmares the past two nights."  Alergast yawned.  "He keeps on waking up howling in terror, poor kid, and that sends Petal into a barking fit, and that wakes Verah, who starts howling herself, so let's just say that sleep has been scarce."

"Plus, I don't think I was invited to your fancy dinner, Mr. Hero."  Alergast grinned at Kellan and put on his most innocent expression.  "I was just saving the town from being overrun by goblins."  He nodded with mock seriousness.  "It's a good thing you were around to save the nobility!"

---

---

This message was last edited by the player at 06:54, Thu 03 Oct 2013.

"One...two," Liseth was examining the ground closely, occasionally running her hands over slight depressions to determine their significance.  "Three...four," She stood up and and slowly began to walk from the entrance to the vault with the broken seals and trace a path slowly towards the wall of the Boneyard.  "Five...six," She was bent over while walking in order to be able to better see the prints that lay on the ground.  Suddenly Liseth stopped, "Oh..."

A frown slowly spread across her face as she hiked her skirt up once more and got down on her knees.  After looking up the wall of the Boneyard, she reset her gaze to closely examine the ground again.  She traced a particular print with her fingers and, still frowning, stood back up and followed the trail of slight prints closely; paying particular attention to this one set.  Finally Liseth reached the unsealed door of the defiled vault by following the tracks back to it, then she frowned again.

With a look at Pisca, Liseth stood up straight and brushed the wrinkles out of her skirt as she allowed the garment to once again fall to cover her legs.  Then she shot a disturbed glance around at all of the others assembled, "There was six goblins in the Boneyard.  And..." The girl frowned once more, "And there is another set of footprints that are with the goblins'.  Bigger footprints; bigger than mine."  Which may or may not be surprising considering Liseth's own dainty feet.

She continued, "It is hard to tell for sure who the bigger footprints belong to.  All that I can really say about them is that the person is bigger than a goblin; maybe as big as Mr Crispin or even Mr Storval."  Then the small girl pointed at the base of wall where she had knelt moments ago, "They got into the Boneyard there.  I think that they climbed the wall during the attack on Sandpoint.  All seven of them, the goblins and this other person that was with them."  Her finger traced the path from the wall directly to the opened vault, "They went straight into the vault after they got in to the Boneyard, they didn't go anyplace else."  Liseth frowned for a fourth time, "I think that this bigger person was in charge of the goblins.  And I think that he knew exactly what he wanted, and that he knew whatever it was was inside the vault there."  Liseth ended with her finger pointed directly at the unsealed door.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:29, Thu 03 Oct 2013.

"Brilliant, Lysa!"  The gnome grinned and surveyed the field of evidence, watching the gobbies sneak across the ground even as the young human acolyte of Sarenrae described them.  "Just brilliant.  I knew the leader was a Biggun.  Had to be.  I knew it," she said.  Then the gnome looked up into the faces of the collection of humans she had come with.  On her face was the wide-eyed look of an innocent who's just been wrongly accused.

"What?  I did.  Really."  But, whatever she'd meant by those words, whatever innocence she may have been defending, went by the wayside, tossed off, discarded like the rind of fruit now eaten.

"Well, lets have a look at the crypt now, shall we?  You say they broke the seals.  Lets take a look at what kind of seals were there and just how they broke them.  Smashed, I can imagine.  With great strength."  Pisca patted a small gnomish hand against the surface of the door, feeling its solidity.  She grabbed it with both hands and tried to move it, testing her strength against it.

"Hmmm.  Maybe we should have had Father Zantus come with us.  Unless you know this crypt, Kerr.  Can I call you Kerr?  Lysa calls you Kerr.  Do you know this crypt, Kerr?  Would you know whether or not something was ... missing?"

---

Perception 16 (Taking 10) to examine the seals and door(s).

Active Effects:  Dancing Lights.  Will renew when necessary.

Cato listened to Alergast's explanations of his troubles at home after the goblin attack.  The young wizard had certainly experienced a few sleepless nights after things he saw in service to the Hellknights.  He couldn't imagine a child going through the same thing.  He cautiously approached Alergast.

"Alergast, I've...um, read some things that might help with Aeren better cope with what he saw at the Festival.  I know it can seem strange, but seeing that kind of thing can really upset someone who's not prepared for it.  I can stop by tomorrow afternoon, in any case."

Cato shrugged his shoulders.  "If you think it will help, anyway."

Cato waited for a response for Alergast, then walked back over to where Pisca and Liseth were examining the Boneyard.

Despite their grim surroundings, Cato found himself chuckling at Pisca.  "I certainly find myself agreeing with you, Pisca.  There was someone behind the goblin attack, and it seems like they were using it as a cover to break into the crypt and steal something."

Cato nodded again as Pisca examined the door.  "Certainly, there was no magic at work here, or at least none that I can discern.  Just old-fashioned muscles."

Cato laughed again.  "Pisca, you're constantly one step ahead of me.  Hopefully, Kerr or Father Zantus can determine what was taken, and then we might be able to discern who's behind this, and for what reason.  This whole thing doesn't make a lot of sense, though.  It seems like someone wanted to deliberately hurt the town.  If all they wanted was to steal something from the crypt, they could have snuck in at night.  They probably would have been heard, but it would take the acolytes of the church a few minutes to get out here, by which time they could have escaped.  And leaving the crypt like this, they must have known their crime would be uncovered...especially given the fatalities the mob of goblins was sure to cause.  Off the top of my head, I can't think of anyone who would have such a grudge against the town."

Cato looked at Liseth, Pisca, and finally at Kellan.  "I guess most of us didn't grow up here.  Kellan, can you think of anyone who's felt so wronged by the town that they would deliberately cause this kind of chaos?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:33, Thu 03 Oct 2013.

"That's a good question, Cato."  Pisca turned from the door of the crypt to give the good question a moment's thought.  "So what you're ... "  Something in the young mage's face seemed to catch the interest of the gnome.  She squinted her eyes under the brim of the big hat, peering to see something lost in his face.  She cocked an ear then, listening as if to a far off voice.

"Um ... no."  With a shake of her head, she dismissed the mysterious interruption and continued on with her line of query.

"So, what you're looking for here is a big person.  Not a goblin or a halfling or a gnome.  We're looking for someone with enough influence to unite at least three of the five major goblin tribes into a single attack.  We're looking for someone smart enough to plan this coordinated attack for the day of the festival.  We're looking for someone with enough hate for Sandpoint or enough love of panic and chaos to hurt as many people as possible despite the risk of discovery.  And, we're looking for someone who might have a use for something religious."

"Hmmm ...  Let me think about this," said the gnome as she gave the questions some thought.

---

Knowledge Local check, please.

Active Effects:  Dancing Lights.  Will renew when necessary.

Kellan nodded a little in sympathy with Alergast "Poor little guy, it's hard enough being young with an active imagination...having real life monsters running through the streets is enough to put a full grown man on edge,"

"Grudge against the town?" Repeating Cato's question as he seemed to think. "Not that I can really think of...that's kind of above my pay grade if it involves some kind of political or military reason to cause havoc here. As far as a personal one, Chopper is the only person I could really think of with that kind of hate in him, and the Sheriff solved that problem years ago" a Glance towards Hemlock

"Who was the last person to see the contents of this vault before it was sealed?" He asked the group during a break in the conversation.

---

---

Kerr looked even more impressed with Liseth’s tracking abilities when she was able to identify the number and type of the intruders.  He smiled at her, then remembered that they were there on more important business than mooning over the most beautiful girl in the world.

Although that was pretty important too.

“What could they possibly want in the vault, though?”  He asked.  “This isn’t one of those Osiriani temple-tombs the bards tell stories about, heaped with traps and treasures and magic.”

He looked at Pisca.  “It shouldn’t be too hard to tell what it was they took because, truth to tell, there just isn’t that much to take.”  He looked confused, then over at Kellan.  “I was in there as a young acolyte during the burial ceremony after the Late Unpleasantness, so I would have been one of the last people in there.  And there are just a bunch of tombs.  I mean, it’s nice, and clean, and it looks suitably impressive, but there are no treasures or valuables for tomb-robbers to plunder.”

Kerr studied the vault.  “I don’t know who would hate Sandpoint enough to organize the goblins to raid it.  I don’t know who would have enough influence with the goblins to organize them in the first place.  And I certainly don’t know why in Desna’s name they would want to go through all this trouble just to get inside THIS tomb.”  He gestured helplessly at the crypt.  “Your guess is as good as mine.”

---

---

This message was last edited by the player at 17:58, Thu 03 Oct 2013.

---

---

"Why, well, thank you, Cato," Alergast Barett said in response to the wizard's offer, looking both surprised and pleased.  "If you think you know something that might help Aeren, I'd be really grateful if you stopped by and talked to him."  He nodded appreciatively to the younger man.

"And tomorrow afternoon would be great."  The guardsman gave Cato a conspirator's smile.    "I hope you don't mind if I tell Amele that I've retained the services of an expert sage to help Aeren.  It will certainly help me out of the doghouse Belor put me in by dragging me out here in the middle of the night."

The big man returned his attention to the matter at hand.  "As far as a military or political reason to attack Sandpoint, I can't think of one.  Occasionally a couple of Sandpoint's five founding families have a spat, but that's generally kept to themselves and certainly wouldn't be taken out on Sandpoint proper.  And I can't figure a reason why one of them would feel the need to stage a raid on the preists' tomb."

"The goblins are always happy to raid; they're just disorganized.  Whoever organized them has to have some sort of influence with them.  I don't know how they would have accomplished that."  Alergast scratched the back of his head.  "We certainly haven't heard anything about anyone doing anything of the sort."

---

---

This message was lightly edited by the player at 18:19, Thu 03 Oct 2013.

"No.  Guess not.  Know.  Or do not know.  There is no guess," said the gnome to Kerr Mollin in a queer and unusual accent.  "Bruthazmus the Bugbear is intelligent enough," she added.  "And, he has influence with the goblins, a love of panic and chaos, and a history of killing or enslaving humans.  But why he would want anything from this crypt, I do not know."

"Hmph," the gnome hmph'ed.  "And I don't know of how he might be connected to Sandpoint either."

"But we're not going to find that out by standing around here.  Wait.  You said that you were the last one in here, right, Kerr?  And that was after the Late Unpleasantness.  Right?  That means the last time this was opened was five years ago.  Does ... that ... follow?" Pisca said, very much in the manner of a gnome sneaking up on an unsuspecting idea.

"Hmm.  I don't know whether or not that's significant or not.  But it may be.  It just may be.  Lets go."  And the gnome directed her floating lights through the doors of the crypt and then followed them in.

---

Perception: 16 (Taking 10) for danger or anything interesting.

Active Effects:  Dancing Lights.  Will renew when necessary.

Liseth beamed at the reactions she got from having been so successful in reading the tracks.  She never imagined that she would be using those skills that her father had been sure to teach her in such a way; but the fact that she was able to help so much when nobody else knew about tracking just made her ecstatic.  Even though she was still very concerned about what the goblins and their mysterious non-goblin boss were doing here in the first place.

"They wouldn't...want to do something with the remains interred in there would they?"  Liseth listened as Kerr mentioned that there was nothing of value within the vault, "Surely they wouldn't go to all of this trouble just to desecrate the bones of all of the former priests and acolytes..."  Suddenly her eyes widened at a terrible thought and the girl quickly made her way back to Kerr's side, limping speedily the entire time.

"Mr Crispin...um...Cato," She watched Pisca send her glowing light orbs into the vault then move to follow them inside.  "You're sure that they didn't use any magic when they sneaked into the vault?"  Liseth clung worriedly to Kerr's arm, standing partially behind him, and her voice became small and sounded frightened, "You know...bad magic.  Undead magic..."

If whoever did all this wanted to defile the tomb and those interred there, Liseth could think of no better way than to raise them into unlife.  A thought that was not helped by standing in a graveyard at night, even among all these friends.  But surely the Boneyard is a holy place where undead couldn't exist...right?

---

---

Pisca opened the door to the crypt; it swung open quite easily even for the diminutive (some might say Right-Sized) gnome.  As her dancing lights made their way into the crypt’s interior, she was shocked and surprised to see them illuminate four animated skeletons on their way out, skeletons that clearly had carnage on what passed for their minds.  Two moved to surround Pisca while the other two, claws outstretched, moved to interrupt the equally-surprised Cato's study of the crypt.

Pisca managed to avoid the claws of the first skeleton but was raked across the shoulder by the second.  The third skeleton got caught up in some of the vault's decorative shrubberies before it could attack Cato, but as it extricated itself the fourth skeleton hit the surprised wizard, who was unable to stumble backwards far enough to avoid a nasty claw wound to his chest.

OOC:  The surprise round is over.  Roll for initiative.  Players who roll higher than the skeletons’ 13 may post actions.

14:06, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Skeletons, rolled 13 using 1d20+6. Initiative.
14:05, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Skeleton 4, rolled 6 using 1d4+2. Damage to Cato.
14:05, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Skeleton 4, rolled 14 using 1d20+4. Flanking Attack on Cato.
14:04, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Skeleton 3, rolled 7 using 1d20+2.  Attack on Cato.
14:03, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Skeleton 2, rolled 4 using 1d4+2. Damage to Pisca.
14:01, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Skeleton 2, rolled 23 using 1d20+4. Flanking Attack on Pisca.
14:01, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Skeleton 1, rolled 5 using 1d20+2. Skeleton Attack on Pisca.

---

---

"Wah!  Skelies!  Bad magic, Lysa.  Bad magic!"

The gnome weaved and dodged among the towering bones of the walking skeletons.  The dead had come to life and the only thought that came to her mind was, Not fair!  Not fair, Bruthazmus the Bugbear isn't supposed to be able to do this!

---

14:32, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 7 using 1d20+4. Initiative.

Active Effects:  Dancing Lights.
HP 5/9
This message was last edited by the player at 23:18, Thu 03 Oct 2013.

The sudden confirmation of her fears caused Liseth to tighten her grip considerably on Kerr's arm as her heart pounded and her face paled.  She watched in terror as animated skeletons poured out of the crypt and used their terrible claws to rake and attack Pisca and Cato.

"Go away!"  She shrieked at the uncaring bones.  Then a glow appeared in the girl's eyes, that quickly spread throughout her body.  A bright white glow.  [Language unknown: "Tinearoer i ut!  Ivmo ssour molin amenteine m taall sepre!"]  The holy glow concentrated for a moment before bursting forth from Liseth, subtly but considerably different from the healing light she had channeled before.  The wave of light washes over the skeletons...

Standard Action: Channeling Energy to Turn Undead.  The skeletons must succeed on a DC 15 Will save or flee as though Panicked for 1 minute (10 Rounds).

14:30, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 21 using 1d20+1. Initiative.

Wow, take that Initiative.

"I didn't see signs of any magic in the Boneyard or outside the crypt, Liseth, I think we're..."

Cato lost his train of thought as he saw the skeletons coming out of the crypt.  He tried to backpedal, to turn and run, but he was moving too slow.  And the skeletons came on like an inexorable tide.  Cato screamed as the claws of one bit deep into his arm, and the wizard had to focus to stay on his feet.  He knew if he passed out from the pain, it would be over.

OOC:
20:06, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 8 using 1d20+6. Initiative.

This message was last edited by the player at 10:59, Fri 04 Oct 2013.

Kellan was still idly chatting with Alergast when the commotion of combat reached his ears, perking up he hefting his pole axe and stared intensely towards the crypt, his eyes attempting to discern what was happening in the among the shadows of the vault.

01:07, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 11 using 1d20+2. Initiative.

---

---

Kerr Mollin wasn't the most physically imposing of men, but when he saw the skeletons come boiling out of the crypt a change came over him.  He didn't get LARGER, really.  But it seemed like his presence expanded.  He looked up as he thrust his holy symbol of Desna into the air, yelling:


A burst of light emanates from the young acolyte.  It shatters the two skeletons attacking Cato and one of those attacking Pisca.  The remaining skeleton is staggered, but continues to press its attack, heedless of its companions' destruction.

OOC:
Kerr channels energy to damage the Skeletons (DC 16).

10:18, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Skeleton 4, rolled 15 using 1d20+2. Will Save Against Channeled Damage. (Fail, takes five points damage, killed)
10:18, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Skeleton 3, rolled 7 using 1d20+2. Will Save Against Channeled Damage.  (Fail, takes five points damage, killed)
10:18, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Skeleton 2, rolled 22 using 1d20+2. Will Save Against Channeled Damage. (Succeed, takes 2 points damage)
10:17, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Skeleton 1, rolled 12 using 1d20+2. Will Save Against Channeled Damage. (Fail, takes five points damage, killed)
10:15, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 5 using 1d6. Channel Energy Damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:28, Fri 04 Oct 2013.

---

---

"Die, fiend!"  Belor Hemlock drew his sword and moved to attack the remaining skeleton, but stumbled a bit in the relatively-dim light, missing the undead monster completely.

OOC:

11:53, Today: Belor Hemlock rolled 11 using 1d20+9. Attack on Skeleton 2.

---

---

---

---

Neither Sheriff Hemlock's attack nor Kerr's holy rebuke deterred the relentless automaton from its attack on Pisca.  While she managed to dodge one of the claws, the second impaled her; the tiny figure gasped as slid off the skeleton's claws, slumping insensate to the ground.

OOC:

11:57, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Skeleton 2, rolled 6 using 1d4+2. Claw Damage to Pisca.
11:57, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Skeleton 2, rolled 13 using 1d20+2. Claw Attack on Pisca 2.
11:57, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Skeleton 2, rolled 18 using 1d20+2. Claw Attack on Pisca 1.

Pisca is unconscious and dying at -1 HP

It is now the players' turn. 

---

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 19:04, Fri 04 Oct 2013.

"Pisca!" Cato roared as the gnome dropped to the ground. Barely even pausing to think, the wizard flung a glob of acid at the offending skeleton. The desecration of the bodies of Sandpoint's devoted servitors enraged the young man, and he put all of his effort into shaping the caustic attack.

OOC:
15:43, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 1 using 1d6. Using Sandpoint Scholar to increase damage to 2.
Assuming I can use that on a spell-like ability.
15:43, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 21 using 1d20+2. Ranged Touch.

HP:3/9

This message was last edited by the player at 20:13, Fri 04 Oct 2013.

Bony death.  Pisca Neep Freemish felt the stab of pain as the claw penetrated her armor and ripped flesh from her body.  Pain gave way to a miasma of dark, foggy, sort of cloudy stuff that gave off sparks of glittering light, and laughed with the silvery voices of the fey.  What remained of Pisca Neep Freemish knew, in that vague way in which all things know that they are alive, that she was being taken to the Barrow.  She would enter, passing through the many hands of the ancestral fey, before being shunted out into the vast unknown of infinite possibility.

The spirit of the gnome once called Pisca Neep Freemish, rose from its corporeal body.  It watched as blood drained from the horrible wounds in the delicate flesh.  The lovely features of the gnomish face were still and pale.  Up above, the Barrow of the Ancestral Fey beckoned.

You want me to go where?

The spirit of the gnome folded her arms across her chest and, getting a stubbornish sort of look on her face, refused to go.

---

12:32, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 16 using 1d20. Stabilize vs DC10.

HP -1/9

---

---

Cato's acidic bolt blasted into the skeleton, bursting it apart right in front of a surprised Sheriff Hemlock.  The rapidly disintegrating pieces of what was formerly the skeleton's body were flung back, leaving only the silent, still form of a gnome in their wake.

OOC:

The skeletons are defeated, and combat is over.  You may resume normal play.

---

---

In dismay, Liseth watched as her wave of energy was completely ignored by the undead skeletons.  She imagined that they would be laughing at her had they been capable of such an action.  Instantly she recalled Father Garrick's words to her when he was teaching her about undead and positive energy:

The holy energy of the divine that we channel in the name of the deities is anathema to the undead.  They cannot stand it.  The same light that heals the wounds of the living is painful against their unholy, cursed bodies.  They fear it, even those undead who are no longer capable of such emotion.  Believe in your own strength and that of the gods and you will have no need to fear them; for they will flee in fear of you.

But it would seem that Liseth isn't strong enough...and now her friends were going to suffer for it.

After this moment of sorrowful reflection on her own shortcomings Liseth's attention was grabbed when Kerr rose his own holy symbol into the air and shouted his defiance at the skeleton monsters.  And he even spoke the language of the heavens like Liseth did!  She was awed when the burst of energy that Kerr released was so much stronger than her own; watching as nearly all of the undead were destroyed outright by its power.

But not quite all of them.  Liseth gasped in horror as Pisca was struck down by the final remaining skeleton.  "Pisca!"  Her shout mimicked Cato's as she left Kerr's side to run/limp as quickly as she could to the fallen gnome's side.  Her fear of the undead skeleton standing over Pisca was outweighed by her concern that the gnome might be killed.

As she ran Liseth said a prayer, "Sarenrae, save this life with your blessed light..."  She braced herself for the skeleton's wrath, but before Liseth reached Pisca's side a bolt of acid blasted the undead apart; she didn't give herself any time to be relieved however, and the girl immediately dropped down on her knees next to the dying gnome and laid her hands across Pisca's bloody wounds.

15:14, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 8 using 1d8+3. Cure Light Wounds.

That should heal Pisca by 8 points, putting her back up to a less than lethal 7.

It had all happened so quickly that Kellan had not even closed with a skeleton, all the same he took up a defensive stance in front of Liseth as the acolyte worked on Pisca. His boots ground some of the bone underfoot as he moved Into position, trying his best not to think of the dishonored dead as he did so.

"Liseth? Is she going to be alright?" He called back without looking to her, eyes peering into the darkness half expecting more to shamble out.