Theldrin is relieved to see the Revenant collapse as he peers around the corner, then dashes down the stairs to check on Coriana and Avery. Once he's sure everyone seems to have survived the battle okay, he takes a moment to collect himself before turning his attention towards the door.
"I'm quite depleted of magic at this point," he says grimly, "but hopefully we could retreat in time if needed."
Khessa also checks on her companions—certainly the challenges posed by the guardians of this necromantic lair are no easy feat! She would have been ready to open the new door, since "Maroe is close, so close, to achieving perfection"—and something tells her that Maroe's "perfection" won't improve Pedestal's (or the rest of the world's) situation at all—but, precisely because every encounter so far has been challenging in its own way, she concedes: "No problem for the breather—that time won't make a difference."
The blonde arcane warrior, miraculously escaped unharmed, stands guard if necessary; then, once the party is ready to move on, she goes to open the door...
(OOC: Bringing suggestion from the OOC channel back here. Let's take an Action Short Rest.)
At Coriana's suggestion that she could use a few minutes to patch up her injuries, and seeing the state of the rest of The Company, Xanrym agrees: "Yes, good idea! I think that everyone could use a brief rest. Like Avery said before, every room in this place seems difficult and dangerous. Let's rest and recover a bit before we open another door." Xanrym suggests moving back up to the ledge while they rest. He doesn't think that the Graveyard Revanant will reform in the next 10 minutes, but he doesn't like the feeling of lingering necrotic energy in the graveyard. The area up on the ledge felt slightly more wholesome, and it would put them closer to the door back to the secret hallway in case something does disturb The Company's rest.
Action Short Rest: Xanrym will recover his 5 uses of bardic inspiration. He is still uninjured and does not need any healing.
(OOC: @Aaggie - it's sounds like we're going to take an Action Short Rest, so you could probably save the potion of healing for later. If Avery has any Second Wind uses left, you could use that before the rest, and Avery could spend HD during the Short Rest if he needs additional healing.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Theldrin takes a few minutes to sit on the steps and close his eyes, gathering his strength as he reviews the day's events thus far in his mind's eye. Then as the others prepare their spells he inspects the graveyard and area around the door to the east.
Theldrin thinks on today's events, summarizing them in his head as you take your Action Short Rest. You've entered the tower that used to belong to the drow necromancer Maroe. Maroe was working on some very dark necromantic ritual using arcane and divine magic with the help of at least one demon lord; Orcus. However, something went wrong and Maroe stopped researching and disappeared. Some time later, Fadheela entered the Spike, avoiding many encounters and taking up residence in Maroe's old Sanctum.
After your quick rest, Khessa tries to the door to the east, and it is locked. No magic or traps seem to be in play here.
The stone door swings open to reveal two great stone sarcophagi, their lids carved to resemble a drow male and a drow female lying in state. They stand atop stone biers on the northern and southern sides of this chamber. The air here is musty and full of dust.
Xanrym gives a satisfied nod as the lock clicks, and the door starts to open. Peeking inside, he is curious to investigate, but he'll definitely let Khessaor someone else enter first in case the bodies in the sarcophagi are not entirely dead.
Theldrin eyes the sacrophagi suspiciously, his characteristic frown deepening as he slowly shakes his head. "We may be taking on more than we're prepared for at the moment..." he mutters, than says in a louder tone, "Be prepared to retreat if this doesn't go well..."
(OOC: @drumdigby - how large is this mausoleum that holds the sarcophagi? Or, alternatively, you could just reveal the interior of this room on the map. Depending on the dimensions of the room, Xanrym may want to create a bonfire in the room before anyone enters.)
Khessa also thinks that problems are incoming, but she is still worried about '"Maroe's perfection"... so she definitely opens the sarcofagi, starting from the one of the drow male.
Being at the Mausoleum now, you see to the south the graveyard continued. More graves, perhaps slightly less 'alive' seeming.
OK. I guess Xanrym now points out the door leading west from the southern leg of the graveyard, suggesting that it's an alternate escape route that's slightly closer than the secret door through which they entered up on the ledge above...
gesturing toward the south when he notices that the graveyard stretches farther in that direction, "maybe back into the the Audience Hall."
Since Khessa looks interested in opening the male drow sarcophagus (north) first, Xanrym suggests that she wait a moment for him to cast Create Bonfire on top of the female drow sarcophagus (south). That way, if anything emerges from the female drow sarcophagus while Khessa is working with the male drow sarcophagus, it will hopefully be emerging right into a bonfire!
As Khessa starts to open the sarcophagus of the drow, Xanrym is struck by the sight of her opening a drow's sarcophagus, her light and the bonfire highlighting her blonde locks, her gleaming plate armor shining in the dark mausoleum. The symbolism of the moment seems poetic, and he says: "Brave and resilient, Khessa escaped from the drow only to return, willingly, to one of the drow's underground cities. You are like a light of hope, gleaming in the darkness below! The vitality of life, standing victorious over the pale imitation of undeath!"
Movement: Move to the north side of the door, trying to peer past Avery into the mausoleum. Action: Cast spell Create Bonfire on top of the female drow sarcophagus. Bonus Action: Grant bardic inspiration to Khessa. Once within the next 1 hour when the target fails a D20 Test, they can roll a 1d8 and add the number rolled to the d20, possibly turning failure into a success. If they use the inspiration, but the D20 Test still fails, they keep the inspiration die because of Xanrym's Unfailing Inspiration.
Concentration: Create Bonfire, round 1 of 10 While the bonfire lasts, any creature who enters bonfire’s space for the first time on a turn or ends its turn there must also make a DC 17 DEX saving throw or take damage: 9 (fire).
(OOC: I also updated the map, moving Khessa into the mausoleum and adding Xanrym's bonfire.)
Khessa seems... to blush slightly? Apparently, she was deeply touched by the poetic compliment, delivered in an admiring tone: "Thank you, Xanrym—your words always resonate deeply in my soul... If I am here now, it is also thanks to the inner strength they gave me in decisive moments."
The blonde arcane warrior, however, is surprised by the empty sarcophagus: "What could have happened? Did Maroe never use it... Or did he rest there and then emerge once he'd regained enough power? But Mr. Rotting Heap said his transformation was 'almost' perfect, so Maroe must still be somewhere else perfecting himself... Theldrin, you have a certain talent for secret passages... Do you want to check if there's one in the mausoleum—or perhaps even inside the sarcophagus itself?'"
...And if the wizard sets to work, the tall adventuress tries to help him.
If no secret passages are found, however, Khessa also tries to open the other sarcophagus, that of the drow female.
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Theldrin is relieved to see the Revenant collapse as he peers around the corner, then dashes down the stairs to check on Coriana and Avery. Once he's sure everyone seems to have survived the battle okay, he takes a moment to collect himself before turning his attention towards the door.
"I'm quite depleted of magic at this point," he says grimly, "but hopefully we could retreat in time if needed."
Coriana stands up from the pile of bodies and shudders. "I could use a bit of a breather..."
[[Has it been an hour since I dismissed Asclepius? I have another use of my tentacle so don't mind dismissing it before moving forward.]]
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
Khessa also checks on her companions—certainly the challenges posed by the guardians of this necromantic lair are no easy feat! She would have been ready to open the new door, since "Maroe is close, so close, to achieving perfection"—and something tells her that Maroe's "perfection" won't improve Pedestal's (or the rest of the world's) situation at all—but, precisely because every encounter so far has been challenging in its own way, she concedes: "No problem for the breather—that time won't make a difference."
The blonde arcane warrior, miraculously escaped unharmed, stands guard if necessary; then, once the party is ready to move on, she goes to open the door...
Avery will consume one of his potions of healing: 5
(OOC: Bringing suggestion from the OOC channel back here. Let's take an Action Short Rest.)
At Coriana's suggestion that she could use a few minutes to patch up her injuries, and seeing the state of the rest of The Company, Xanrym agrees: "Yes, good idea! I think that everyone could use a brief rest. Like Avery said before, every room in this place seems difficult and dangerous. Let's rest and recover a bit before we open another door." Xanrym suggests moving back up to the ledge while they rest. He doesn't think that the Graveyard Revanant will reform in the next 10 minutes, but he doesn't like the feeling of lingering necrotic energy in the graveyard. The area up on the ledge felt slightly more wholesome, and it would put them closer to the door back to the secret hallway in case something does disturb The Company's rest.
Action Short Rest: Xanrym will recover his 5 uses of bardic inspiration. He is still uninjured and does not need any healing.
(OOC: @Aaggie - it's sounds like we're going to take an Action Short Rest, so you could probably save the potion of healing for later. If Avery has any Second Wind uses left, you could use that before the rest, and Avery could spend HD during the Short Rest if he needs additional healing.)
Theldrin takes a few minutes to sit on the steps and close his eyes, gathering his strength as he reviews the day's events thus far in his mind's eye. Then as the others prepare their spells he inspects the graveyard and area around the door to the east.
Investigation: 9
Theldrin thinks on today's events, summarizing them in his head as you take your Action Short Rest. You've entered the tower that used to belong to the drow necromancer Maroe. Maroe was working on some very dark necromantic ritual using arcane and divine magic with the help of at least one demon lord; Orcus. However, something went wrong and Maroe stopped researching and disappeared. Some time later, Fadheela entered the Spike, avoiding many encounters and taking up residence in Maroe's old Sanctum.
After your quick rest, Khessa tries to the door to the east, and it is locked. No magic or traps seem to be in play here.
When it becomes clear that the door is locked, Xanrym return to the door, get out his Thieves' Tools, and attempt to pick the lock.
Sleight of Hand: 24 (with advantage because he's also proficient with Thieves' Tools)
(OOC: Quoting this skill check because I was having problems with the forum's dice roller today, and I'm worried that the value will vanish.)
The stone door swings open to reveal two great stone sarcophagi, their lids carved to resemble a drow male and a drow female lying in state. They stand atop stone biers on the northern and southern sides of this chamber. The air here is musty and full of dust.
Xanrym gives a satisfied nod as the lock clicks, and the door starts to open. Peeking inside, he is curious to investigate, but he'll definitely let Khessa or someone else enter first in case the bodies in the sarcophagi are not entirely dead.
Theldrin eyes the sacrophagi suspiciously, his characteristic frown deepening as he slowly shakes his head. "We may be taking on more than we're prepared for at the moment..." he mutters, than says in a louder tone, "Be prepared to retreat if this doesn't go well..."
(OOC: @drumdigby - how large is this mausoleum that holds the sarcophagi? Or, alternatively, you could just reveal the interior of this room on the map. Depending on the dimensions of the room, Xanrym may want to create a bonfire in the room before anyone enters.)
Sorry 10x15.
Being at the Mausoleum now, you see to the south the graveyard continued. More graves, perhaps slightly less 'alive' seeming.
Khessa also thinks that problems are incoming, but she is still worried about '"Maroe's perfection"... so she definitely opens the sarcofagi, starting from the one of the drow male.
The stone slides easily away, and it is empty.
OK. I guess Xanrym now points out the door leading west from the southern leg of the graveyard, suggesting that it's an alternate escape route that's slightly closer than the secret door through which they entered up on the ledge above...
Since Khessa looks interested in opening the male drow sarcophagus (north) first, Xanrym suggests that she wait a moment for him to cast Create Bonfire on top of the female drow sarcophagus (south). That way, if anything emerges from the female drow sarcophagus while Khessa is working with the male drow sarcophagus, it will hopefully be emerging right into a bonfire!
As Khessa starts to open the sarcophagus of the drow, Xanrym is struck by the sight of her opening a drow's sarcophagus, her light and the bonfire highlighting her blonde locks, her gleaming plate armor shining in the dark mausoleum. The symbolism of the moment seems poetic, and he says: "Brave and resilient, Khessa escaped from the drow only to return, willingly, to one of the drow's underground cities. You are like a light of hope, gleaming in the darkness below! The vitality of life, standing victorious over the pale imitation of undeath!"
Movement: Move to the north side of the door, trying to peer past Avery into the mausoleum.
Action: Cast spell Create Bonfire on top of the female drow sarcophagus.
Bonus Action: Grant bardic inspiration to Khessa.
Once within the next 1 hour when the target fails a D20 Test, they can roll a 1d8 and add the number rolled to the d20, possibly turning failure into a success.
If they use the inspiration, but the D20 Test still fails, they keep the inspiration die because of Xanrym's Unfailing Inspiration.
Concentration: Create Bonfire, round 1 of 10
While the bonfire lasts, any creature who enters bonfire’s space for the first time on a turn or ends its turn there must also make a DC 17 DEX saving throw or take damage: 9 (fire).
(OOC: I also updated the map, moving Khessa into the mausoleum and adding Xanrym's bonfire.)
Syllen will stay outside of the Mausoleum and keep an eye on the entrance to this area.
Khessa seems... to blush slightly? Apparently, she was deeply touched by the poetic compliment, delivered in an admiring tone: "Thank you, Xanrym—your words always resonate deeply in my soul... If I am here now, it is also thanks to the inner strength they gave me in decisive moments."
The blonde arcane warrior, however, is surprised by the empty sarcophagus: "What could have happened? Did Maroe never use it... Or did he rest there and then emerge once he'd regained enough power? But Mr. Rotting Heap said his transformation was 'almost' perfect, so Maroe must still be somewhere else perfecting himself... Theldrin, you have a certain talent for secret passages... Do you want to check if there's one in the mausoleum—or perhaps even inside the sarcophagus itself?'"
...And if the wizard sets to work, the tall adventuress tries to help him.
If no secret passages are found, however, Khessa also tries to open the other sarcophagus, that of the drow female.