Spiders of the Abyss

Neth looks up from his dagger that he retrieved on the way down, checking it for nicks as he looks up worriedly at Galingal. "Casting magic down here seems to set the crystals off... Least that's what I got from what Kolose was saying... If you try to heal us, it may trigger who knows what. This place sucks."

The tiefling seems to currently be of the opinion that things are not 'fine'.

Stena watches the cowards return before moving into the light.

"No more magic in here. If ye want to cast something go outside."

Turning to the last unopened tomb, she says,

"We open this one. Four ghosts four tombs. The four ghosts are gone."

She eyes Kolose suspiciously,

"Right?"

Then more broadly,

"After that we rest. No one has heard any voices in their heads?"

She will look between each person critically and then she will gesture for Galingal to step out with her and she says,

"We need to check below that tomb. Depending on what we find under, we can decide our next step."

She'll absently flick between her remaining dozen arrows, counting them mentally.

"No more than... no.", Neth replies to Stena asking about voices.

Galingal looks at Neth when he answers Stena, catching the change.

"What do you hear?" Galingal asks Neth. "What tells you all is fine?"

Regardless of the answer he nods his agreement with Stena and ushers the others to come over to the last coffin.

"Everyone push," Galingal says so that the group can provide help to one of the stronger ones - Petmailer.

"Hmmm? Things are certainly NOT fine, we just disturbed four ghosts that almost killed us, let's loot this place and get out of here!"

Neth will join in on the pushing of the lid.

Petmailer nods to Galingal, he gathers his strength and appreciates the help as he pushes with all of his might to remove the lid from the last coffin.  “After we do this, if they have truly gone, we need to rest and recover.  These red welts that I didn’t see are hurting, but let’s finish this.  I don’t know who took that wand I found, I have no idea if it was magical.  I was hoping to find anything to help against those spirits as fast as I could…”  Petmailer speaks as one who has taken many bruises and beatings in the past, even to the point of near-death, but never from an otherworldly, ethereal source such as the ghosts that they faced.  He still seems quite shaken.  

Athletics / Str check to move lid : 17 (with the help)

Galingal gestures to Petmailer to push on the side of the coffin - they're trying to move the whole thing on the rollers that are under it and not the lid.

((I don't think Galingal pointed the coffin being on rollers to anyone but Stena, but Petmailer's first roll is enough to move the lid without the help.))

With Galingal bracing further down, and ready to pull the coffin forward into the room, Petmailer shoves the lid off, revealing a fourth and final desiccated set of remains, this one clasping a gold censer on a chain, the body of it worked in what looks to be a platinum filigree. A similar pale blue glow emanates from its mouth.

((Can make another check to roll it forward.))

"Well, magic turned out to be quite effective. I just... Needed a moment to find the right spell," he said, before dubiously looking at a few of the crystals. "Although not without some issues..."

Hearing Stena call out, he nods.

"I think so! We've not been attacked anymore, and I took care of the two that were assaulting the stairwell. There was... Something, however. There may be magic still at work," he says. On which subject he turns to the casket.

"The jewelry on these folk seems safe to take. There is some kind of magic within their mouths, but... I'm not sure how safe it'd be to go for that."

The sinews of the sternocleidomastoid and platysma muscles in Petmailer’s neck strain as he shoves and pushes with help, feeling fatigued and injured by the ghosts but wanting to prove his worth as he shoves the coffin forward on the rollers at the direction (and with the help) of Galingal.  “Uuurrrrrghhhhhh ah!”  He sweats, panting, looking to see if anything lies beneath, looking back up at the others.  “Like that?”

Athletics (with adv) : (Nat 20!) : 24 to move the coffin on the rollers.  

Petmailer gets himself psyched up, and gives a might heave with Galingal and Neth helping, and the coffin rumbles into the room on its stone rollers, leaping off them at the end and grinding the crystal shards littering the room to dust as Neth topples over at the sudden movement. The tiefling gets up, dusting himself off, but mostly managing to smear the soot (and perhaps a bit of cow poo) around his stained travel clothes. 

The coffin's movement reveals a short drop to a narrow staircase descending before turning to the left, glowing pink crystals studding the walls.

Stena keeps her bow ready as the grunts move the coffin. Seeing nothing ruse out she edges over and looks down.

Perception: 19

It looks very much like a stone stairway, but straining her senses, Stena can just make out a feminine voice. It is distinctly different from the voice the party heard in their minds, this one is harsh and breathy, but it's so faint, that she's only fairly sure that she can't understand it because of a language barrier. It doesn't seem to be conversing with anyone however, she gets the vibe that it's more of an angry muttering to oneself.

Galingal looks down the stairs as well and then back to the rest of the group. 

"May lose some if we go down," Galingal says to Stena, his eyes lingering for a moment over Petmailer, Neth and Lia. He and Stena aren't in much better shape. Only the old wizard seems to have come through the last encounter in good shape.

"Go out, heal, rest and come back," Galingal suggests to the group.

Petmailer looks up and his eyes meet with Galingal.  “Thank you.  Yes.  I agree”.  You can tell that there is he is severely wounded, he doesn’t want to admit weakness, but he would welcome a rest.  

"Close it."

Stena commands.

"There is something down there waiting."

She'll use a spell slot to activate her Primeval Awareness.

Once it is closed she'll nod her agreement that they need a break.

"Aye'll go see about butchering one of these cows."

Survival?: 14

There's definitely the preternatural stink of undead, Stena can feel it swirling around her. She pushes the sensation to the side, and gets to the business of butchering the untouched portions of the cows.

((How long are you looking to devote to butchering?))

((Given there is no way to preserve any significant quantity of meat she is only going for the best, most easily accessible cuts. Never having butchered a cow myself but having been in the room with people that knew what they were doing, probably no more than an hour. Neth will get a tail.))

Stena will say as she walks to the unspoiled cow, waving the stink of undeath away.

"More undead below."

She doesn't bother to explain how she knows that.

Pending Stena’s butchering, Galingal will head back to the ‘outside’ and find a spot to watch the temple and anyone that might sneak up on the group.

Perception: 26  

"Should we move back up and rest for now?" Kolose proposes, seeming in favor of a temporary retreat.