Ah ha! Istvan's conviction in evil magic (arcane, divine, or otherwise) being glow-y is once again bolstered. He gives his allies an eager sort of we must be going the right way to fight the evil look.

Spriggy returned Istvan's look, but with significantly less eagerness. He whispered to them, "So, at what point do we claim we have solved the mystery of the graveyard and return to collect our reward? Because it is looking increasingly likely that the miners stumbled upon an entrance to the Dark Elves' depths, who are trying to raise the dead in the immediate vicinity of their new connection to the overworld. I suppose we don't have enough evidence to say for sure that that is what is happening, but I am hoping we don't have to follow them all the way back to one of their underground cities before we can say we are certain enough..."

Cautiously, the bard inched forward to get a better look at what was glowing up ahead. He wanted to know if it was natural, or if it might be something that fell into his area of expertise (spells and magicks). His keen elven eyes and soft footsteps helped him to get a closer peek.

---

I suppose Spriggy is trying to Discern Realities here:
15:40, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 11 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 4,6.  Discern Realities - faint glow.
Better than I dared hope for! I will ask these in relation to the faint glow:

What should I be on the lookout for?
What here is useful or valuable to me?
What here is not what it appears to be?

"If there are Dark Elves outside the Wasteland then all of the races face a dire threat," Kharla pursed her lips in thought, "Yet I would think no Dark Elf to have any difficulty raising the bodies buried in the nearby graveyard.  Surely the corpses would walk the streets of Chestnut Hollow adding the townsfolk to their number long before now.  It may be that what has been freed needs time to gain its full power....or it may be something else."

She bites her lower lip before admitting, "I think I should like to know which, dangerous though it will surely be."

The redhead raises an eyebrow to Istvan and Spriggy, gratified to see the bard move forward towards the glow.  She follows, hugging the tunnel wall in near silence.

OOC: How bright is the glow?  Are lanterns still needed as we get closer?

15:59, Today: Kharla rolled 12 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 5,5.  Defy Danger + Dex, approach silently.
- forgot my +1, regardless Kharla will try to remain stealthy and have opportunity to use her Backstab ability if something comes for the group....

The glow is quite faint. In fact, Spriggy soon realize the cavern has a crack open to the sky, letting a trickle of starlight inside. It's not enough to see by... but it just enough to spot the movement of a group of skeletal wolves, slowly rising as you draw near.

As your lanterns bring light to the cavern, a stray beam bounces on a silver object in the wall. You don't have much time to pay attention with the three wolves coming closer, but it seems to be a small altar of some sort.

OOC: The wolves didn't spot Kharla, giving her a chance of Backstabbing one.

The thief springs upon the nearer lupin skeleton just after it has past her position.  She slashes across the flank of the undead creature, then raises her weapons in a defensive posture to prepare for a counter-attack.

16:15, Today: Kharla rolled 8 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 3,3.  Backstab.
• You deal your damage+1d6

16:35, Today: Kharla rolled 7 using d8+d6 with rolls of 3,4.  Backstab damage.

"There is an altar!" Spriggy said. But he didn't have time to explain further. "Let's deal with these then go take a look." The bard rushed forward with his rapier drawn. He probably wouldn't have stood a chance against the beasts if he hadn't just been getting a sense of the cavern layout via starlight only moments prior. That tiny bit of geographical knowledge gave him just the edge he needed to twirl past a gnashing maw, spring off of a stalagmite he had noticed, then stab into the beast's vacant ribcage.

Chonk!

It was about as effective as stabbing a wooden beam with a quill pen, but Spriggy still felt like a skilled warrior. At least until his opponent reacted to his moves.

---

Hack and Slash with my rapier (a precise weapon, so I roll using dex). I'll focus on the same one as Kharla if she didn't already destroy it. Otherwise he will go after one of the others instead.

21:10, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 6 using 2d6 with rolls of 4,2.  Hack and Slash (with dex).
I forgot about the +1 from my Discern Realities, so that is actually a 7. Just made it. "You deal your damage to the enemy and the enemy makes an attack against you."

21:13, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 1 using 1d6 with rolls of 1.  Damage.
He's a heavy hitter!

Istvan is taken aback for just a moment while his allies spring into action... Well, we did take this job because of my skill set... he thinks, and he raises his holy symbol once again...

(10:02, Today: Istvan Vanoson rolled 11 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,5.  Turning wolves! Turn ALL the animals!)

"Shoo! Scat! In the name of Noric, god of Darkness and Freedom! You undead beasts are dark and all, but you're getting in the way of our freedom!"

Kharla's strike easily slips between the undead's ribs, before moving up to break it's spine. It falls to pieces, too damaged to keep fighting. The one attacked by Spriggy, on the other hand, barely notices the blade's scratch, as it jumps to bite the bard. Hard.

Thankfully, before it can pull Spriggy to the floor, Istvan's power manages to push them against the back of the room... where they stay, having no clear path toward an exit.

OOC: Spriggy takes 5 points of damage. Those teeths aren't for show!

"Ahh!" Spriggy exclaimed as the skeletal wolf bit into him. He could feel the blood already soaking his sleeve. Thankfully Istvan managed to repel it before the undead could cause any more damage.

The bard held his lantern aloft with his injured arm and saw that the foes were cowering in the corner. He knew that attacking them would likely break the cleric's magics, but maybe they could still eliminate their threats another way. Spriggy didn't want to just leave them there for later after all.

Spriggy thought quickly about the resources available to him and recalled that he had a fishing net in his pack. Considering all of the bones the net's holes could snag on, as well as the surrounding stalagmites poking up from the ground. Spriggy figured there was a good chance that the skeletal wolves would become thoroughly snagged. At least for long enough that they could safely destroy them without being subjected to meaningful counterattacks.

With his plan in mind, Spriggy explained his intent to his companions. He then pulled out his net, aimed carefully, then tossed it at the undead wolves to ensnare them.

---

I am trying to Defy Danger with quick thinking, if possible. Using the net to snag the wolves' bones and the surrounding stalagmites.

20:56, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 10 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 3,6.  Defy Danger with Int - net ploy.

One adventuring gear used. Do we need to roll to attack them, or can we simply destroy them carefully at this point? (Assuming my plan worked as intended.)

With the wolves entangled, you carefully crack them down, until they stop moving. And with the threat gone, you're free to examine the altar.

The thing is made of silver, and seems to be part of the silver vein running into the wall. By the rocks still clinging to the altar, you're guessing the vein dragged it underground all the way here, and it seems no one saw this altar for centuries.

The altar is decorated with a series of strange runes, with a black skull placed at it's front. On it's top is an orb, apparently made of layers of silver of differing purity, creating a strange pattern of light and dark metal.

Breathing heavily after helping to dispatch the wolves, Spriggy sheathed his rapier and cradled his lantern arm so that he could get a good look at the silver altar. It seemed familiar to him, but in a vague sort of way. The black skull, the silver, the runes... they all felt familiar. Spriggy searched his mind to try and place why they seemed familiar.

---

Does the altar fall under the category of a "spells and magicks" item for the purposes of Spriggy's bardic lore? If so, I will also ask a question about it in my next post. It seems important enough to warrant one.

Spout Lore:
14:03, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 7 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 1,5.  Spout Lore - Silver Altar.

"On a 7–9, the GM will only tell you something interesting - it’s on you to make it useful."

Spriggy isn't sure what it is exactly, but it the runes seems... creepy. The only book he remembers seeing something like them were in the 'DANGEROUS, DO NOT TOUCH!' section of the library. The orb is surprisingly familiar, though... looking at it, you're reminded of the moon. In fact, the light and dark stripes of the sphere look exactly like the patterns of the moon this month.

Yes, the altar qualifies.

"I think this may be a moon shrine..." Spriggy guessed. "But not the happy harvest type. I remember seeing runes similar to those in the restricted section of the library." He looked the shrine over with a new goal in mind and searched for the telltale signs of magical utility. He attempted to visualize himself in the role of a person "operating" the silvery altar. It was obviously meant to be used for magical purposes, so knowing how it could be activated could provide them with clues.

And maybe a potential boon...

---

My Bardic Lore question about the altar:
"What would we observe if someone were to activate the altar's magicks in front of us?" (Hoping to figure out how to activate it and what effect that would have.)

Kharla regarded the strange alter with no small sense of longing for the silver worked into it.  But she'd little experience with magic, let alone such dark forces which could raise the bones of animals and people alike.  It was enough to stay any thought of touching the shrine or any of it's contents.

But in her pondering Spriggy's words triggered a question, "A moon shrine, you say?  Is it safe to say then that it is meant to be used in the full light of the moon?"

She eyes the crack above, trying to determine if the moon shines upon the shrine even now or if it has already moved past the opening.

"Is it possible moonlight itself upon the shrine triggers the raising of the dead?  Or does someone come at the correct time to work such fell magic?"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:34, Wed 24 Feb 2021.

Looking closely at the runes and workings of the altar, Spriggy concludes that Kharla is right. This construct was made to automatically cast a necromantic spell when provided by the right energy. Namely, moonlight.

The sides of the cracks above are steep and high. By Kharla's estimate, the moon can only shine down into the cave for an hour or two, and it's already passed tonight.

After explaining the automatic nature of the altar, Spriggy said to the others, "So... is that it then? Is that the extent of the mystery? Was this little shrine really the source of all of the town's problems?" He eyed the altar again, curiously. "Kharla, do you have any tricks-of-the-trade that might be able to disable things like this altar? Something more reliable than simply making sure moonlight doesn't shine on it? I would simply destroy it, but I don't really want to risk unleashing any of the magics built into its construction. I can try explaining how certain parts of it probably work, if that would help."

As he waited for an answer, Spriggy began humming a gentle tune to himself. A tune of healing from the unknown language in his songbook.

---

Using Arcane Arts on myself to heal some damage:
13:57, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 9 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 5,2.  Arcane Art - Heal self.
I heal 1d8 damage, but... your spell still works, but you draw unwanted attention or your magic reverberates to other targets affecting them as well, GM’s choice.

Damage healed:
13:59, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 6 using 1d8 with rolls of 6.  Damage Healed.
Back to full health!

Kharla taps her lips as she considers the shrine.  "If it were a mechanical switch I might wedge something in to keep it in place but that seems little applicable here."

She walks round the shrine as talks, exploring options, "I once heard tell of a trap which used water to fill a cistern once triggered to slowly raise and reset a crushing weight.  It was defeated when the cistern was breached and the water allowed to stream away....hmmmm"

20:34, Today: Kharla rolled 11 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 5,4.  Tricks Of The Trade.
When you pick locks or pockets or disable traps, roll+DEX.
✴ On a 10+, you do it, no problem.

"Tell me what you know and perhaps I can determine a way to channel the magic of the shrine into the ground rather than building up to release as intended."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:38, Thu 25 Feb 2021.

As Spriggy does his chant, Kharla notices the spell seems to resonate with the silver vein. Even without moonlight reaching the altar, the raw ore itself seems to also absorb energy and fuel the necromantic spell, causing the skull to chant once more.

It's quite fascinating. It's a shame it also seems to bring the wolf together again...

Two of the wolves are still entangled, but the third manage to make it back to his feet... barely.

Kharla doesn't really see an easy way to divert the power, but removing the skull would probably stop the spell from being cast.

Uh-oh, wolves getting back up... Time for Istvan to go back into action again...

(13:16, Today: Istvan Vanoson rolled 10 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 3,5.  Turning wolves again! Turn ALL the animals as often as it takes!)

Whew! It worked well again...

"Oh no. We should have ground those bones to dust!" Thankfully Istvan was proving his worth yet again! "I'm not sure it is worth attacking them at this point, so long as you can keep them repelled until we escape this cave, Istvan. But let's get this altar deactivated quickly before we retreat."

Spriggy helped Kharla where he could with the deactivation. Once it was done, he said to the thief, "Now that it shouldn't be able to absorb my magic anymore, let me give your combat capabilities a bit of... inspiration. In case we need it on our way out." The bard began singing a tune that sounded a lot like a battle hymn, but as usual the words were not in a known language.

---

I am assuming we can head back to town now that we have figured out that the altar was creating the undead. Istvan, Kharla, feel free to disagree. Spriggy won't object to going a bit deeper. He also won't object to someone trying to steal a bit of silver from the altar, but he doesn't want to risk it himself.

Regardless, Spriggy is using his Arcane Arts to give Kharla "+1d4 forward to damage."
13:54, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 11 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 3,6.  Arcane Arts: boost Kharla's damage.
It worked well this time!

"Ah ha!" Kharla cries as the skull begins its cursed chant, the throwing dagger is in her hand in an instant and flings it at the shrine, "I should have known it was the skull."

She knows as soon as the blade leaves her hand it is not her best throw...

20:52, Today: Kharla rolled 9 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 3,4.  Tricks Of The Trade or Volley, knock skull off alter.
- Kharla wants to remove the skull from the alter without changing touching it by throwing a dagger at it.  Not certain if that counts as Tricks of the Trade or just Volley.

If Tricks of the Trade then:
✴ On a 7–9, you still do it, but the GM will offer you two options between suspicion, danger, or cost
- hmmm, how about cost

If Volley then:
• You have to take what you can get: -1d6 damage

20:57, Today: Kharla rolled -3 using 1d8-1d6 with rolls of 1,4.  Damage.
- guess if it's Volley she misses

And maybe it doesn't matter as the wolves seem dealt with and we may have more time to separate the skull from the shrine.

EDIT: removed a bunch of text that's no longer needed since the skull actually shattered and released... something
This message was last edited by the player at 03:50, Fri 26 Feb 2021.

The wolves glare at Istvan, unable to draw closer due to Noric. But as Kharla throws her dagger into the skull, it shatters, and the undead fall apart once more.

A dark magical cloud rises from the skull, and gathers in the center of the cave, before forming into...

This message was last edited by the GM at 03:35, Fri 26 Feb 2021.

"Crap, crap, crap," Spriggy sputtered as the figure formed before them, dropping his magical battle-hymn in the process. "This CANNOT be good..." The bard searched his mind for any scraps of knowledge about the creature that they might be able to use to their advantage. Especially in the likely event that the figure proved to be malevolent. He hastily blurted what he could recall to his teammates.

---

This being definitely seems very magical in nature, so I'll try to use my Bardic Lore to ask a question about it. I will also Spout Lore to see what else I know.

Spout Lore:
21:46, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 7 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 5,1.  Spout Lore - magical cloud person.

Potential Bardic Lore Question:
What are its weaknesses?

Here eyes seemed the size of saucers as Kharla watched the dark cloud she had released begin to coalesce.  With a quick scan of the cave she found little cover and so crouched behind the one object which might be large enough to conceal her: the shrine.

07:52, Today: Kharla rolled 5 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 2,1.  Defy Danger + Dex, quickly hide!
- lol! +XP

Alas for the startled thief her surprise was too great.  She stumbled behind the ancient shrine and peeked around its edge, fooling no one.

Should she have a chance, Kharla will also consider the legends she has heard which might relate to this...thing.

07:57, Today: Kharla rolled 4 using 2d6 with rolls of 2,2.  Spout Lore.
- ....see this is why one tends to leave lore up to the Bard, +XP if GM confirms she can perform this action as well
This message was last edited by the player at 13:59, Fri 26 Feb 2021.

The creature raises it's arms, as a blasphemous chant fills the room...