For an instant, an unnerving sensation, a strange amalgam of a deep chill and an electric shock, seizes the adventurers. As the green illumination fades from their vision, Barnabus, Dilemma, Ishmael, Lampert, Malivoire, and Ynes find that they are in unfamiliar surroundings.

Save for Dilemma, this sense of confusion lasts only for a moment. The remaining adventurers recognize the long stone corridor that they find themselves within. Ten feet north of their position stands a stone archway, adorned with carefully rendered runes and symbols. Those that had explored in this direction previously recall the arch, remembering that it seemed to denote a specific area of the tombs.

To the south, the passage travels ten feet before slanting to the southeast. The flickering light of a fire can be seen in that direction, most of the adventurers recalling that the light comes from a large brazier, which sits in front of an imposing statue of a gargoyle that occupies the western side of the chamber which the hallway leads to.

As the company members find their bearings, they are suddenly aware of voices coming from the south, growing loud.

”Even if they were followers of Set, it still doesn’t make sense for them to set him loose. He’ll as soon destroy them as us.”

”Perhaps he promised ‘em something? Riches or a powerful favor? No matter. They’ll not live to coll…”

Around the corner where the corridor shifts to the southeast emerge five figures. Three are clad in black chainmail and gray robes. All three appear human, though the two men in the lead are considerably younger than the gray haired man behind them. Behind the older man stand a pair of skeletons. The skeletons carry spears, while the armored humans have maces on their belts and shields strapped on one arm. The shields are all black, adorned with the symbol of a ram’s skull.


”You lot picked the wrong place to go hunting for treasure,” the gray haired man snarls.

15:11, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 5 using 1d6.  Initiative - Party.

15:12, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 2 using 1d6.  Initiative - Priests and Skeletons.

Despite the angry words, it’s plain that the adventurers have caught many in the group off guard. The party wins initiative.

The men in chainmail have an armor class of 4. The skeletons have an armor class of 7. The skeletons do not have gems embedded in their foreheads.

For reference, the adventurers are located 10 feet south of location 12 on the Main Game Map.

Malivoire was disoriented for a few moments before the surroundings registered in the mage's mind, after which he was amazed at the teleportation effect that flung their portion of the group across the catacombs.  He looked to check that the others were all right after the relocation, and in fact who had been transported with him and who had been left behind.  That inspection was interrupted in turn by the sound of voices approaching, which immediately put him on guard.  They're talking about Varghoulis, he realized.

When the three humans rounded the corner, flanked by their skeleton escorts, Malivoire immediately began a casting.  It wouldn't affect the undead he knew, but perhaps the three warriors would succumb to its power.  With sonorous words and flick of silvery sand, he commanded them to rest their eyes.

OOC:
Cast Sleep on the enemy group, hopefully to catch all three humans.
18:24, Today: Malivoire rolled 8 using 2d4.  Sleep Impact. So long as none having 4+1HD, will affect 8HD levels worth of enemies.

The eyes of the three chainmail clad men flutter as Malivoire’s sand diffuses into the air around them. Each of the trio take a couple of drunken steps before sinking onto the stone floor, their breathing quickly growing heavy. One of the younger men begins to snore noisily.

OOC: The three men are asleep. Unless deliberately slapped awake or wounded non-fatally, they will remain in that state for…

17:55, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 13 using 4d4.  Sleep Duration.

…13 turns.

21:40, Today: Dilemma rolled 13,3 using 1d20,1d4 ((13,3)).
Throwing a dagger at the nearest spear skeleton.

 "Damn it...!" Dilemma hisses as she lands wherever she has been placed...

 Just as she has gotten her bearings, she finds that her companions have taken care of a number of problematic persons!  But, those without flesh remain standing.  Drawing another of her daggers from her hip, Dilemma chucks it at the nearest skeleton... and backs away.

"Orcus acolytes," Barnabus growls in response, his words falling on three pairs of deaf ears thanks to the sorcery of Malvoire. He turns his animus on one of their skeletal attendants in the form of a crushing blow with his cudgel. Was this one of those gussied up barrow skeletons or one straight from the garden?

Well done, Mal. I still have command and hold person.
Our methodical mode of exploration has paid dividends.
Hits for 8 dmg.
11:42, Today: Barnabus rolled 16,8 using d20+3,d6+3.  attack skelly.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:28, Mon 14 Nov 2022.