Tests and Trials Game Thread

Kroshav is tomb working.

Ernos will keep himself busy through the day with keeping the snow from building up too much in front of the tomb entrance; Maintaining Create Bonfire near the entrance, Prestidigitation to keep the ground warm, firebolt to break down any very solid clumps of snow, and Mage Hand to shovel the loose snow away.

Oh, and after the previous day's events, he'll be maintaining Mage Armour, too, in case of any surprises.

Cladmir will assist Kroshav with the tomb work.  He also wanted to ask the paladin more about his faith, but seeing the focus and concentration Kroshav has at his work decided to keep questions to himself for now.

The work continues in the tomb, Cladmir moving out the sandy remains of the walls while Mikram moves about and makes smaller adjustments or gives Kroshav instructions. Near the entrance, Ernos makes the tomb a bit more hospitable while keeping and eye on things outside.

As the day starts to darken, Mikram states,

"That's as good as we're going to get this place. Aye'm not a stoneworker but aye think this is something we can be proud of for Lurn. Aye just need to finish his statue now and we can move him in."

He then turns to continue working on his statue.

"Going to take a few more days." And somewhat defensively, "It won't look exactly like him, but enough for people to get the point."

As the finally clear-up of the mostly finished tomb is going on darkness outside falls, the snow now lightly falling. Ernos, from his spot by the door, hears the soft crunching of snow approaching and shortly after spots a golem jogging towards them. It stops near the entrance and conveys the Librarian's voice tonelessly,

"A number of clearly undead creatures have entered the archives."

Ernos sees now that the golem has fresh gouges in its stony skin.

"They approached in numbers, so a withdrawal to the lower floors was undertaken and simple barricades erected between the first and second floors."

There is a pause and the golem says,

"One of the undead is...requesting Lurn's body. Joe says she knows the voice, someone you have met before. Lurn's body was been removed before the first floor was abandoned as was the horse."

"The best parts of Lurn you couldn't see just by looking at him, but it's already looking great. Don't know if these claws are of any use, but you'd be welcome to use them if it'd help."

When the golem/Librarian says the Archive has been invaded by undead, his thoughts immediately go to Lurn's body by the entrance, and he's already moving to Ealu. He sags in relief when it's revealed that both Lurn and Charlie have been moved lower.

"Did Joe say who it was?", he asks as he continues making Ealu ready to depart.

((Heck of time reading those top letters in that font!))

Mikram just shrugs at Kroshav's assertion of inner good but does say to the claws,

"They are more for the rough work, if aye was carving the side of a ravine they'd be fine but not for a small statue."

---

The golem pauses for a while before answering if Joe knows who it is, presumably asking Joe herself. The golem eventually offers,

"Joe says it was a man name Gethrin or Gethren or maybe Gathrin. He blew up a camp you were at."

There is another longer pause and then the Librarian continues,

"He is offering to depart should he get Lurn. From what he is saying, I don't believe he is aware that Lurn is passed beyond the veil."

Cladmir, while not entirely understanding what is happening, was already gearing up for immediate departure and battle when he heard something about the "undead".

"What?  Really?   How did we get tracked here, way out in nowhere?   What type of undead?"

"These undead seem particularly interested in your passed friend.  If he is their target, perhaps some sort of scrying magic is in play to seek him out."  Squinting in the direction of the library, Ernos shrugs, "I doubt you'll want to give up the body.  Do we go fight?"

"They'll probably be keeping watch and see us coming, Not sure he'll be easy to convince to ride away."

Intelligence: 13

The golem answers,

"The snow fall obscured the exact number and types of all the undead, though I would estimate no fewer than ten rushed my golems. As for what kind, while I am not an expert, the ones that lead the assault appeared to be mostly ghouls and a couple of ghasts. I can also confirm there are some sort of incorporal creatures as well, a few have attempted to cross the barriers."

To Kroshav's point,

"The ghouls and ghasts did not pursue this golem, but they clearly saw it leave in this direction. I was not circumspect in my attempts to reach you."

"So at least ten, or different sorts, that know or could track to where we are here. They're not taking Lurn, and we're not letting them get deeper into the Library. Good chance they'll see us coming, but we know the Library layout better, at least until they scout it. Move in, put them down as fast and hard as we can. Perhaps the Librarian and Joe can create some sort of distraction when we get close so they aren't swarming us as we come in?"

"We will watch for an ambush as we had back.   How far into the library have they gotten and can we keep this golem with us on the way?  That way you can keep us updated on what is happening and where you see any undead or issues."

"They have not progressed past the first level. Or rather, the corporeal ones have not. I have seen a few incorporeal now in the third. I am attempting to dissuade them as I can along with Joe's assistance. My golems are of limited use against them, though they seem to largely ignore the golems in turn."

To Jaq,

"This golem will proceed with you. Joe and I will prepare a response."

Cladmir listened to the ongoing conversation with great interest.  He had seen the undead a few times on the field of battle, but only at a distant and they were not his chief concerns at the time.  Patting his magical Warhammer and determined to make sure no harm comes to Kroshav Cladmir asked, "I'm not too familiar with combatting the undead, but I assume that the corporeal one can be beat down like any other enemies.  How do I fight the incorporeal ones?"

"Undead are far from my standard, but let us hope they burn as usual."

"I plan to hit 'em till they stop moving. It's worked so far.", Kroshav says to Clad.

Kroshav will brief Mikram on what the golem has said. "Do you want to come and fight for Lurn? Maybe a crossbow from Ealu's back?"

((@Cladmir, roll me an intelligence check for undead please.))

Mikram straightens on being asked, having seemingly decided he would be left.

"Aye. Aye'll fire a few bolts into them, for Lurn."

((@All, you just going to head straight back in or do you have a larger plan?))

((Ernos doesn't have many grand ideas for this))