The skeleton reels as a fire bolt clashes into its skull between the horns, from there the bones rattled like a grim chime as Aracynth threw all his might into his swing! The ribcage broke on impact, shattering some of its collar bone, and the minotaur stumbled sideways a step or two before regaining its footing. Still standing, it certainly seems to be crumbling from the sudden renewed force of the party.

Kynortas stepped back in order to let the blows of his fellows land. The flame and sword combo were very effective. Time to go for another crushing blow. He steps forward and throws an uppercut straight into his jaw.

Unarmed Strike: Attack: 15 Damage: 4

Finally, the beast shuddered as its bottom jaw snapped shut. The eye sockets cracked and one of the horns split as the lights in its eyes went out. It crumbles into a heap at Kynortas' feet, laying still. The huge axe tumbles harmlessly away from the two combatants and thuds to the ground.

Heaving, sore, but proud, you stand and hear the birds of the forest begin chirping again and the wind picks back up to a gentle breeze. The sun is quite low, now, but there is still light to go from.

Please make investigation rolls to search your surroundings or perception to check your whereabouts and look out for signs of more danger. (Not both, please)

(DM note: Well done! That was scary for a minute there, but hard fought and experience well earned!)

Perception 10

Tharin breathes a sigh of relief and takes a quick look around while advancing towards the bones with his bow still drawn.

As the minotaur skeleton cracked and shattered before him, Aracynth let tip of his greatsword dip a few feet. While the present danger was dealt with, they weren't out of the woods just yet. Aracynth kept the magic shield up for as long as he could, to help against whatever else might attack them. It would not do to be caught unawares when they were already so wounded.

"Are you all okay? Or functioning, at any rate?" The Dragonborn turned to regard each of them in turn, "Tharin? Fizzbang? Kynortas?" Seeing them all at least standing, Aracynth continued surveying the area. He was looking not only for signs of any further danger, but also to see if he could spot Ysmir's Rest, so they could find the root to help the Lady Rhea.

Perception : 11

[OOC : Shield of Faith lasts 10 mins.]

Kynortas looks down at his new scar. Left side, in between his ribs. Sword went right in. There was definitely lingering pain, but it had been mostly healed. He dropped to his knee and then sat down. Looking over the piles of bones left laying around and checking his immediate area for anything worth something or any thing worth noting in his immediate surroundings.

Investigation: 13

"Thank you, Aracynth. Without your magic I would surely be dead or close to it. I need to check my armor. Something doesn't feel right and these blows should not be so easy for them to land. I fear it is not offering me it's full protection." 

As you all glance about you notice through the clearing that the skeletons came through what appear to be smooth, carved stones set in the ground. Some are barely visible through the underbrush, and what appears to be a large, gothic-style building behind them. The stones and building are all dark grey, worn, weathered, and from what you can see, old.

Among the rubble of bones and weapons you find nothing of note. The weapons and armor, now bereft of their necromantic magic, look quite rusted and decayed. The bones are simple and well rotted, as if they've been underground for many ages.

Aracynth glanced uneasily to others, after spying the building down the path. "It looks to be some kind of temple, but to be out in these woods, it must be nearly ancient.. another relic of these Dusk Wars, perhaps?"

The lack of immediate threat allowed him to quickly checked over his own gear and bandage up his wound from the minotaur. He'd have a bruise from the horse, but luckily his scales helped to abate the damage his armor could not. He spent another minute helping to clean and bandage the wounds of his fellows as they all took a moment to recoup from their harrowing encounter.

"Any chance Ysmir's Rest lies in there? I don't particularly want look for further trouble today, but time is short, and we should move quickly while we can, if we are going to.."

Fizzbang breathed a sigh of relied. Not dying was still proving to be his favorite pastime. Foul creatures, the undead. And something told him there would be even greater danger before this journey was through. 

“Just a quick jaunt into the forest my illusory ass.” He grumbled. “Scales has the right of it, we’re bloody from head to toe, I’m running on empty and would much rather approach any other such nonsense fully prepared.”

"I should be able to scout and see if there are any threats, and see if the root we're looking for is in there as well. If I come back running, we should depart. If I don't come back in 15 minutes, depart anyway. I should be able to catch up with you."

Tharin heads toward the building, keeping low to the underbrush and his bow nocked with an arrow.

Stealth 11

Perception 25

Tharin:

Tharin makes his way back to the group.

"I found Ysmir's Rest, though Kynortas met him first. There is a graveyard through the woods with a statue of a man on a horse with a spear labeled 'Ysmir', but I didn't see any movement. There are some flowers near the base of the statue. I don't recognize them, though. Could they be what we're looking for?"

"Let us move forward then for now. We can keep an eye out and be wary. Go in quickly and do what we need to do." Kynortas says.

As the group makes its way through the brief patch of forest and underbrush a graveyard looms before you. Well worn stones, numerous graves, and thick weeds litter the ground. A mausoleum crests above the site toward the eastern most patch of the clearing and beside it stands an incredible statue. Just to the right of the mausoleum entrance, upon a large plinth, rears a horse and a well armored warrior atop it. The warrior holds his spear aloft in his left hand, his other holding the reigns of his armored war horse, his face forever frozen in a bellowing war cry. The plinth has a large, blocked inscription on it reading 'Ysmir' and some smaller lettering below that at the base. It's hard to make out from across the graveyard due to the weathering of the stone, the creeping shadows of dusk, and the moss and lichen that litter the base. Flowers adorn the ground at the base of the statue, placed there seemingly in adoration of this once great warrior.

There does not seem to be a threat or anything frightening about the area. It feels - in fact - sanctified, if that sentiment had a feeling. 

The mausoleum has no door, just a broad archway that leads down into the crypts below. The inside is not lit, so from your vantage point you only see stairs descending into complete darkness.

As the entered the cemetery, Aracynth felt at peace. He tapped into his Divine Sense to be sure, but he had little doubt that this was a consecrated place. 

The Paladin approached the plinth where Ysmir stood astride his mount, and knelt to pay a brief homage. He then leaned in closer, brushing his claws against the stone inscription to wipe away the dust or moss that had settled, to better read it. He granted himelf the ability to Comprehend Languages as he looked closer.

When he rose, he quickly scanned the nearby area for the root they sought.

Nature : 16

Aracynth then rejoined his fellows, retrieved a torch from his pack and lit it. "Shall we then?" and before the others could respond he began descending the steps into the mausoleum, bearing the torch before him. His shield of faith was due to expire any minute now, so he thought it best not to waste any more time.

“Of course the root is in a crypt! Why wouldn’t it be!” Fizzbang grumbled. He typically made it a point to stay well clear of crypts...and forests...and danger in general. Still...”just think of the gold, just think of the gold.” Fizzbang muttered under his breath.

careful to let the hulking Dragonborn go first, Fizzbang followed him into the dungeon.

"Aracynth, let's go back to town. Our comrades need more aid than we can give, and the duchess has been charmed for this long, she can be charmed for a bit longer. Let's delve into unknown depths in the morning, when we aren't barely holding together. We are already late in reporting back to the Duke."

Tharin rests his bow on the ground and stands at the edge of the clearing, waiting for the others to follow.

"Tharin, if this place is as safe as it feels we shouldn't encounter anymore monstrosities here. We should be able to have a short rest and bind our wounds. If we leave now it will take us several hours to head back into town with the possibility of encountering more trouble. Would it not be best to either travel or move ahead when we have our wounds bandaged?"

As he says this he looks around for the root they sought in the area. 

Nature: 12

"It would be better than that to come back with our full faculties, and possibly more provisions. We don't know how deep this mausoleum goes, nor what lies within it. There are a lot more graves here for skeletons to pop out of. Fizzbang and I are injured, Kynortas, you've staved off death once today, and the Dragonborn seems to have a deathwish. The best course of action I can see is to come back later, when we know more about what we came to discover."

"I only wish to see the first landing, Tharin." He had paused a few steps down, as the discussion started, "I do not anticipate further struggle in this place, but should the mausoleum prove more than simple crypt beyond this staircase, I will heed your caution, and we can return to Cloverdown for the night." Aracynth turned and continued down the steps, torch aloft, until he found a landing.