Troubled by Lambert's distress, Barnabus joins the others as they move towards him (but not too close to him).

Assuming his distress is temporary, the next move will be to break into the tomb opposite #29 after Barnabus has cast a precautionary Silence 15' Radius. He focuses the silence on a stray bone that he has picked up.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:55, Thu 10 Nov 2022.

Dilemma and Malivoire find Lampert about ten feet away from the Breldiln crypt’s western entrance, standing in the ooze coated corridor, bent over and holding his knees as he breathes raggedly. When the adventurers draw near, he straightens up, retrieving his lantern from the floor. He turns to face the two wielders of magic, his expression ashamed and sheepish.

”I’m very sorry,” he says, ”Getting coated in the…stuff from that…thing. And the smell. I just…I’m sorry. I’ll do better. I promise. I know if Sir Dryvyk were here, he’d be very disappointed.”

d mortar. Barnabus calls upon the deathlike silence of his patron, which stifles all noise within that section of the hallway. As the strongest members set about the work of dismantling the barrier, the fact that their labor is entirely soundless is inescapably eerie.

It takes perhaps ten minutes for the greater amount of the bricks to be cleared. In that time, those keeping watch see nothing approach from either direction of the corridor. For the moment, the catacombs are still.

The barrier torn down, the adventurers can see that the crypt beyond is a twenty by twenty foot square room. Centered against the southern wall, opposite the door, is a single sarcophagus, the gray stone rectangle topped with a lid of tarnished metal.

In the middle of the room is a detailed statue of a hideous, demonic figure, a glowering expression on its twisted features, its arms raised in what appears to be a gesture of triumph. At the base of the statue rest two leather bags, each held closed with knotted black cords.

A simple chair, carved from stone, is positioned against the western wall. Seated in the chair is a skeleton clad in tattered black robes, slumped forward, its vacant eye sockets seemingly gazing at the floor, which is covered in an even coating of undisturbed dust.

 Dilemma looks around.  "Well, I don't see him... so I think you're going to be alright.  Come." She pats him on the shoulder.  "The others are waiting."

 As she rises, Dilemma adds something with a smile... "I believe you have something of mine..."

”Thank you,” the linkboy says, some of his embarassment receding.

He nods at the reminder. ”Yes, ma’am,” he replies, managing a smile. He returns the vial of oil to Dilemma.

Though the goo from the exploding mass had been discomfiting at worst, Caine still understood Lampert's distress. He himself had tried to wipe as much off himself as he could using his cloak, but it did appear their clothes could use a good wash if they got out of here in one piece.

When Barnabus conjured silence down upon them Caine felt uncomfortable, as he felt naked without being able to call upon his own sorcery, trifling though it may be. Still, he put down his crossbow and helped the others take down the wall.

The revealed demonic statue in the uncovered room though, that caused the hair on Caine's neck to stand and sent a chill down his spine. The slumped skeleton on the throne made him just as uneasy.

Picking his crossbow back up he checked to see if it was loaded, his eyes never moving away from the skeleton.

"Careful..." he muttered uneasily.

"When in doubt, consult your superiors," he had been admonished repeatedly.

It had never been a lesson that Barnabus had taken to heart. Better late than grave dust...

Removing his cloak, he enfolds the seated skeleton within it -- if not tenderly than at least with a modicum of care. Next, he asks Ishmael to see about the safe removal of the two bags. He reasons that in as much as Orcus could be (mostly) still be considered to be a dead god, any offerings to him should be removed.

As for the sarcophagus, he leaves it be after checking it for inscriptions. Brother Othar and the clergy at St. Ygg should be able to provide proper instructions for its cleansing.

Assume bone of silence moved away as needed should we need to converse.
You know, looking at the game map, I think we might be missing a door. The northern part doesn't seem to have a connection to the southern one. No matter, I think we should head back as the sanctification of this crypt of a high priest of Orcus should not wait.

As Barnabus crosses the threshold of the crypt with his cloak in hand, the skeleton seated in the chair looks up at the cleric with its vacant eyes, as if it had just been awakened from a long slumber.

16:25, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 4 using 1d6.  Initiative - Party.

16:25, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 6 using 1d6.  Initiative - Crypt Thing.

Would everyone kindly provide me with a Saving Throw vs. Spells?

 "Don't be ashamed, just stay with us." Dilemma adds, on the way back... "On my first call to adventure, I also ran at one point.   But, I came back to it, because people needed me.  My group needed me.  We need you.  Especially the humans..."

 Once in the chamber...

 Dilemma marvels... and envies at... the silent stoneworking.  Upon sighting the skeletal figure, she sighs and hatches up an illusion to throw.  Why did that godsforsaken trickster have to steal her old spell book?!  After this was all said and done, there would be Consequences for them.  Dire, dire consequences.

15:45, Today: Dilemma rolled 2 using 1d20 ((2)).
Saving Throw versus Spells
This message was last edited by the player at 09:04, Sat 12 Nov 2022.

"Lad, half of us just high-tailed it to the entrance a short while ago with no thought but to escape the wailing phantom, but you held firm.  We all will have our ups and downs in this doom-filled place.  It does not make you a lesser person to show strength and weakness.  It makes you an honest person." 

With Lampert recovered from his nausea and embarrassment, Malivoire moved down the hall with the rest toward their next objective.

~~~~~~~~~~

It was odd to watch the more physical members of the group tear down the wall of brick with nary a sound escaping.  Tools hammered, dust and mortar flew, bricks crumbled to the floor, all in eerie silence.  For his part, Malivoire did his best to remain alert to any approaching threats.  Just in case.

Then the tomb was opened and the mage spotted the large demonic statue over the shoulders of those ahead of him.  It looked fiercely imposing and Malivoire was very pleased it was only stone.  Until he suddenly became aware of a second figure in the room, a robed skeleton that appeared attracted by their intrusion into the tomb!

OOC:
Assuming the Silence spell Barnabus cast does not prevent the skeleton from casting its spell?

21:27, Today: Malivoire rolled 11 using 1d20.  Save vs Spells (TN14). Fail.

Standing in the hall, just outside the newly unsealed crypt, Dax can't help but smile as he watched Dilemma and Malivoire comfort Lampert.

He doesn't pay attention to Barnabus stepping past him to enter the crypt.

---

Question in OOC thread about Silence.

Dax Moonblade rolled 18 using 1d20+1 for Save vs spell (16).
This message was last edited by the player at 08:17, Sat 12 Nov 2022.

Caine hissed out a Stop! To Barnabus, wanting Ishmael to look things over first, but the conjured silence worked against them now and no sound issued forth from his mouth, and he was unable to issue a verbal warning to anyone.

Things seemed to move in slow motion for the warrior-mage, as he started bringing his crossbow up to bear to aim at the rising undead, his movement eerily occurring in complete silence.

---

ooc: Save vs Spells: 20 (my first nat 20 in this game! :D)
This message was last edited by the player at 07:15, Sat 12 Nov 2022.

Once again, Barnabus finds himself unable to resist whatever malefic fate had just been presented to him.

08:47, Today: Barnabus rolled 9 using 1d20+3.  save vs. spells.

The dwarf assisted with the removal of the barrier. Though he struggled with being unable to hear the effects of the tools on the living stone, he was able to point at time to identify weak spots, and where to strike next.

Once breached, he stepped back and waited.  The statue made it seem a good reason to be bricked in, but said nothing.


05:56, Today: Ishmael rolled 3 using 1d20.  save vs spells vs 10.

For a moment, an eerie greenish glow fills the crypt and the corridor immediately outside of it. As the robed skeleton rises from its seat, the illumination grows bright for an instant, then fades entirely.

As dimness returns to the crypt, Caine and Dax find themselves alone, their companions having vanished from sight.

As Caine and Dax stand over the remains of the crypt’s guardian they hear a rush of footsteps approaching from the west, the glow of a lantern and torch becoming visible in the passageway outside of the tomb. Within moments, the rest of the adventuring company appears at the crypt’s entrance, somewhat breathless from their effort to quickly rejoin their companions.

Nearly panting by the time he returns to the devil worshipper's tomb, Barnabus surveys the scene.

"So" -- cough, cough -- "much" -- wheeze, wheeze -- "to do."

He starts by closing a few of the new guy's wounds (Kane, was it? No, it was Cain).

12:39, Today: Barnabus rolled 4 using 1d6+1.  CLW for Caine.

And then proceeds to gather up the bones and bone remnants of the crypt guardian, storing them in its tattered robe, before securing them in a small bag (haha).

Ishmael, he asks to claim the two leather bags which had first attracted his covetous attention. The statue, he also suggests, should be examined and then perhaps transported out of the tomb -- for their patron, naturally.

Finally, he entreats Dax to help him lift the lid of the sarcophagus so that he can remove its contents, whatever they might be, from the barrow before they leave of their own accord. Any remains he will enfold within his cloak.he resolves to consult with his superiors as to the most prudent approach to take with the sarcophagus.

Should all of this be accomplished without calamity, we return to Helix.
As a sort of default, if anything runs contrary to his training, please hit the pause button.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:56, Sun 20 Nov 2022.

 "Glad to see you two again..." Dilemma sighs to the others with a smile, coming up near the back of the gathering with her fellow displaced companions, Charley sticking his torso out of her bag and nodding.

 "We were teleported by that thing.  Not long after, we came across some cultists, and skeletons presumably assisting them.  One guess as to who came out on top."

 She then either assists in whatever is needed, or proceeds to keep watch while things are being seen to by the others in the group.

Staring at the remains of the undead crypt creature, Caine felt the effects of his wounds catching up to him. He was about to ask Dax whether they should inspect the bags for any valuables when he felt a sudden weakness in his legs as well as a stabbing pain in his chest where the creature had hit him.

Using his blade for support he sank to one knee, taking a few labored breaths, trying to will the pain away. The sudden sound of hurried steps caused him to steel himself for another fight, and he was about to rise to his feet when the familiar faces of his companions came into view.

"Well met," he murmured with a smile at Dilemma and her familiar. Barnabus's healing magic was quite welcome, and Caine felt his pain vanish as soon as the priest finished his casting. His breathing came much easier and vigor spread through his body again, allowing him to rise to his feet smoothly.

Sheathing his blade he gave his thanks to the priest before adding , "I am not sure if moving the statue is a good idea, at least not before Ishmael inspects it well. Even then, there could be a curse upon it, similar to the one you were almost inflicted by earlier."

Picking up his crossbow from the ground he quickly loaded it with a bolt, listening to Dilemma's account with interest. "Hmm, cultists sounds like bad news. Not only does this mean there is an active cult here, but their fellows will be missing them when they don't return. And when they find their bodies, they will start hunting for their killers."

As the skeleton crumbles, Dax calls out to Caine, "Well done!" The elf takes a moment to catch his breath, when he hears the sound of footsteps in the corridor.

Whirling about he raises his shield and blade to deal with the new arrivals, but is elated to see that it is the rest of the group returning. "Glad to see you made it back, I wasn't looking forward to tracking you down in this place."

As Barnabus gathers up the blackened bones, Dax gives him a weary look, "Be sure not to cause more trouble to spawn upon us. Before we do anything with that statue let's at least determine if it has an unholy aura to it, or if it is magicked. Besides, carrying it will be difficult.

Now tell us about these cultists."

---

Any of the casters have Detect Magic and/or Detect Evil? I was going to berate Barnabus for his greed, but I will save that for the next time!! :-D
This message was last edited by the player at 03:13, Sun 20 Nov 2022.

The dwarf gathers the leather bags, giving each a cursory inspection at first, then looks over the statue and sarcophagus.  Though he was glad they had all survived, he didn't express as much.

Unquestionably, it has an unholy aura. We can leave the question of its removal for another time. It seems unlikely that the Orcus cultists will be sending a moving crew any time soon (1) they don't seem to come up here (2) three were just killed.

"They already know about us, Caine," Malivoire replied.  "At least in a general sense.  We overheard them talking before they came into view and they were wondering what game we were playing, by releasing Varghoulis from his slumber.  So they know we're moving around through the catacombs."

"Their shields bore the symbol of Orcus," the mage went on, gesturing at the statue for emphasis.  "Fortunately, they fell to my magic quickly, and then expired along with their skeleton guards.  They'll not spread any more information about us than was already known."

Malivoire had seemed proud of that little tale, as it featured his participation rather prominently.  But his face grew troubled when he broached one more topic with the group.

"On our way back we heard a fell creature roaming the hallways, approaching our position at the time.  We quickly came through the room back there," he thumbed back over his shoulder, "and it passed by without noticing us.  But I lingered at the end of our little group to get a better look, and I saw the thing."

"It was an undead knight, skeletal of face, with two burning blue flames for eyes.  And there was intelligence in them, I could tell.  It wasn't Varghoulis, but I am certain it is one of his lieutenants."  The elf shuddered slightly at the fresh memory of those eyes.  "I would not like to think what would have happened if we'd not been able to escape its notice."

After the group had finished looting the room and were queuing up to head back to the entrance Malivoire gently tapped Dax on the shoulder.  "Glad you and Caine fared as well as you did.  Sorry we abandoned you there."

"It seems like a very good time to return to Helix and rest for a day or two."


[Language unknown: Antwilrat ha tedtraive ma res whev, ro tricni. A ti wiloerble k prho has etman mison wilkoryin bleio verastainred.] "But I have to know, how did you Sleeping spell kill those cultists?"

Ishmael collects the two leather sacks that flank the statue, hearing the sound of jingling coins as he lifts each of them.

OOC: The bags contain 300 silver pieces and 400 gold pieces respectively.

The statue does not appear to be anchored to the floor in any way. It is crafted from solid stone and the adventurers estimate that if they were to attempt to move it, doing so would require three of their strongest members.

The lid of the sarcophagus appears to have been cast from silver, the long piece of gleaming metal now tarnished by time and corruption. Two vertical rows of runes are inscribed on its surface. None of the party members who are schooled in the arcane can discern their precise meaning, but all are convinced that they are protective in nature and would bring about calamity were the sarcophagus to be opened.

OOC: I am going to presume that one of the magic users will copy the runes onto a piece of parchment for examination by their patron.

The unearthly quiet has taken hold of the catacombs as the adventurers emerge from the crypt. The silence persists as they make their way back to the entrance chamber, undisturbed by any shadowy denizens that might be lurking in the vicinity. From above, Kraomar hails the company and lowers the pulley’s rope, so that the explorers may ascend to the surface.

It is the deep of night as the adventurers emerge from the tombs, a crescent moon spreading a faint silver light across the mist shrouded moor.