Perrin furtively peaks over the edge of the platform at the undead and vehemently shakes his head. He had heard too many stories about undead eating people and ripping apart their souls. He’d rather be sacrificed again than fight a group of undead. Well, maybe that was a bit of an exaggerated, but that didn’t change the fact that he was terrified of undead.
Sirius just stares at the corpse absolutely petrified, eyes wide. He instinctually uses his divine sense to try to get a whiff of the intentions of the corpse.
Sirius senses that there are no two ways about it: this is an undead creature. But at the same time, the musical notes that you have percieved previously return. The ground and the sarcophagus that the corpse emerged from have been hallowed by ancient magic. For a brief moment, you see yourself standing opposite of a beautiul moon elf, lush forest all around you, leaves dancing in the wind. But the reality is too cold, too much time has passed. The glory that once was, it is forever gone. Sahnar continues staring down on you, the mask sparing you the sight of hollow eyes.
"Ahh, Guys" Aubreen exclaims as he takes a couple slow steps backward. "A request? I've never encountered a friendly dead asking me for requests" Barely taking his eyes off the creature before him he glances quickly at his companions. "What do you ask of a long dead elf? What, power, wealth, wait what was on that mural in the cave? The Elves were standing like this" as he bends into a pose of admiration, "Like the statues"
"The Half-Moon tombs were desecrated by a follower of Auril, we were trying to cleanse them but can not gain access"
The gangly figure turns slowly to gaze upon the gnomon, and beyond, the cracked wall.
"Tis as you say. A grave crime. The tombs may only be opened by the grace of the moon - this was the wish of the builders."
Sahnar slowly steps out of the sarcophagus and inspects its surroundings further. It makes its way down the snowed-over stairs and heads to the moon dial. Once there, it raises a hand to the sky, intoning: "Moonmaiden, hear this humble servant. Send your light down so the stain may be removed from this site most holy."
In the sky, the waning moon and its belt of glittering tears. They take note. Seeming like an illusion, a trick of the eye, the surface of the nearly empty disk fills anew. A white, soft glow descends upon the dial, throwing a shadow upon the half moon insignia. There is a rumble from within the burrow.
After recovering from the initial shock, Sirius goes to investigate the doors. His hand wanders onto the handle of his ice pick; he is still uneasy about the undead in their midst.
Sirius finds that both of the doors within the burrow have opened by themselves. Both contain circular chambers with intricately carved domed ceilings twenty feet high, and each contains a stone sarcophagus. A beam of faint moonlight shines into the two rooms from a circular opening at the top. Someone has turned the northern tomb into living quarters, as evidenced by a rack of drying herbs and an unfurled bedroll behind the sarcophagus.
Sahnar looks down on Perrin upon being addressed. Behind the mummys mask, the voice sounds forlorn. "This tomb holds the king and queen of the family Daeneiros. I, as their servant, was bid to watch over them. Since thou hast awakened me, my watch has ended." It trails off, and starts slowly wandering into the snowy woods.
Perrin shudders as the undead elf starts speaking to him. Was it going to try to eat him next? He watches in anticipation as the elf turn and starts walking away into the woods. He points at the departing undead, an incredulous expression on his face. Were they really going to let a magical zombie wander off into the woods? Actually, now that he thought about it, that sounded like a great idea! Let the zombie be someone else’s problem.
Aubreen heads to the newly opened chambers, starting with the Northern chamber with the Bedroll he tosses it, searching through the chamber for anything of value or note (Investigation, with Guidance: Unnatural 20).
After looking through the Northern chamber he heads to the Southern one, doing the same (Investigation, with Guidance: 13)
"Now that the tombs are open, do we try to open the sarcophagi?"
Aubreen finds various tools lying around, which, taken together, would amount to the contents of a herbalism kit. These working materials have been untidily cleaned up and the scrapings of crushed herbs and ground root still stain the implements. Various pots around the room hold supplies, such as salt, ginger, small amounts of spices and hide scraps. There is a small pile of tanned leather and two bundles of branches that seem to have been selected for their uniform width and straightness.
The walls are covered in various paintings, all in one color, a sort of pale blue. The paintings depict various animals common to the cold regions, such as snowy owls and hares, goats, reindeer, snowy owlbears, seals and walruses. They're arranged in a semi-circle around a central point, in which humanoid figures are to be seen. The humanoid figures in turn are clustered around a dominating snowflake. This painting seems to be covering the original carving, which depicts elves in various poses and activities.
In contrast, the southern room makes all appearance of having been left in its original state.
Sirius: ”I don’t think we should open the sarcophagi. Kinds seems like graverobbing to go around opening sarcofagi just for the sake of it. I don’t think there’s much chance we’ll get any clues for ending the eternal winter by breaking the sanctity of the grave of some ancient elves.” Sirius starts setting up a fireplace in the northern tomb starting to get ready for the night. ”If you guys are curious, go ahead, but I’ll have no part of it.”
Padding after the others, Perrin nods at Sirius's words. He wholeheartedly agreed with the man, though he additionally didn't want to anger a magical elf zombie that may or may not come back to eat them while they were sleeping. Perrin shudders at the thought, and he can only hope that the zombie chose to go eat someone else instead. Speaking of eating things, his gaze wanders over to the dead moose. They could probably haul it back to town and sell its meat for some good coin, though he didn't know quite how he felt about that. Even the moose was, well, a moose, it could think and talk just like person could. He didn't know what the others thought, but eating something that could talk and think like a person didn't quite sit right with him.
Putting the thought aside, Perrin helps set up camp with Sirius, eager to get his bedroll warmed up by the fire before he had to sleep in it.
Aubreen grunts his approval and acceptance of the words from Sirius. Dropping his pack near the fire he says "Ok but I am curious, lets just see if Torm will grant me his vision." He begins to channel his faith, closing his eyes and swaying while chanting softly. (Ritual: Detect magic). He opens his eyes and slowly moves about the Northern chamber scanning thoroughly before heading to the the Southern chamber.
With his senses enhanced by magic, Aubreen becomes aware of the various tuggings of the weave in the tomb. The moonlight shining into the two circular chambers is evidently achieved by minor evocation magic and no physical opening exists to the outside. The carvings around the chambers come to a life of sorts when viewed with such enhanced senses - the figures are given the illusion of movement as you watch them from different angles. A play of color and light, one that few living people would have seen.
The mirror in the dead-end section gives off a strong aura of divination and abjuration. Only the northern sarcophagus gives off magic - the aura seeping out from under the heavy lid seems to come from two distinct sources, not easily categorized into a magic school.
In the main chamber, the fire is merrily crackling, protected from the elements.
Aubreen glances back towards the main chamber. His curiosity getting the better of him, he whispers a prayer...Torm if my actions are true then guide my hand.
He works on the sarcophagus, pushing, pulling, prying, doing all he can to open the lid. He doesn't want to damage the resting place of a revered elven king, but...
He ruminates on a single thought...The dead have no use for enchantments, they should be brought back to the light of the living to be used in the fight for justice, for righteousness , Torm guide me.
The heavy lid of the sarcophagus must weight about 350 pounds, but that is no match for Aubreens practiced muscles. Slowly it grates to the side as he's applying his entire weight. As he does this, the terrible smell of decay starts to fill the chamber and waft out. In the sarcophagus there are no mummy and no skeletal remains, but rather the rotting corpse of a human woman, wrapped in furs. Aubreens intuitive understanding of medicine allows him to determine that this person must have died a few months ago, with the cold having slowed the decay. Beside the corpse, the half-elf spots a sharkskin pouch. The necks of two crystal bottles emerge from the opening. They are filled with differing liquids.
Sirius, lured over by the horrible stench, takes a peek into the tomb. ”How can a mummy sme…” Sirius sees the relatively freshly dead woman. ”What the hells is this.” He goes into inspect the woman to try to see what killed her. ”Could this be another frost druid perhaps. How did they even get her in there, that lid looks very heavy. And where is the original inhabitor of this sarcophagus?” Sirius thinks aloud. ”Perhaps you were right Aubreen, this is very suspicious. Should we check the other sarcophagus as well?”
Sirius [medicine 7]: The apparent cause of death is fairly easy to tell with some of the fur wrappings moved aside. The stench is almost unbearable, but you see several glistening puncture wounds, about one inch each and smeared with blood, in the chest and stomach areas. Whatever they were caused by, they would be enough to kill.
Aubreen collects the sharkskin pouch and two crystal vials. A quick inspection to ensure they are sealed, and safe he tucks them into his doublet. "I beseeched our Lord Torm for sight, the southern chamber did not reveal anything unknown Sirius. I will take first watch this night." Retiring to the main chamber, he pulls forth a stick of dried berries, and herbs pounded together with a smear of animal fats. Retrieving the pouch he turns them over in his hands. A small taste of the liquids he tries to discern what they are.
Satisfied that he has figured it out, (or accepted that he cant) he walks over to the chamber entrance and stares out into a gently falling snow. These druids, and there are more than what we fought tonight, are... are they, the cause of this endless winter. What is it they desire, surely not to drive the citizens forth, but then...what? Where are the others? Will we find other beasts like the moose, can they lead us back or do the druids each use different methods? Aubreens thoughts drift further, This lottery, the sacrifices, they only fuel the destruction, the fear, the tyranny. How can we stop this madness. Is it even possible to redirect the path of an entire town, nay civilization?
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Perrin furtively peaks over the edge of the platform at the undead and vehemently shakes his head. He had heard too many stories about undead eating people and ripping apart their souls. He’d rather be sacrificed again than fight a group of undead. Well, maybe that was a bit of an exaggerated, but that didn’t change the fact that he was terrified of undead.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Sirius just stares at the corpse absolutely petrified, eyes wide. He instinctually uses his divine sense to try to get a whiff of the intentions of the corpse.
Sirius senses that there are no two ways about it: this is an undead creature. But at the same time, the musical notes that you have percieved previously return. The ground and the sarcophagus that the corpse emerged from have been hallowed by ancient magic. For a brief moment, you see yourself standing opposite of a beautiul moon elf, lush forest all around you, leaves dancing in the wind. But the reality is too cold, too much time has passed. The glory that once was, it is forever gone. Sahnar continues staring down on you, the mask sparing you the sight of hollow eyes.
"Ahh, Guys" Aubreen exclaims as he takes a couple slow steps backward. "A request? I've never encountered a friendly dead asking me for requests" Barely taking his eyes off the creature before him he glances quickly at his companions. "What do you ask of a long dead elf? What, power, wealth, wait what was on that mural in the cave? The Elves were standing like this" as he bends into a pose of admiration, "Like the statues"
"The Half-Moon tombs were desecrated by a follower of Auril, we were trying to cleanse them but can not gain access"
The gangly figure turns slowly to gaze upon the gnomon, and beyond, the cracked wall.
"Tis as you say. A grave crime. The tombs may only be opened by the grace of the moon - this was the wish of the builders."
Sahnar slowly steps out of the sarcophagus and inspects its surroundings further. It makes its way down the snowed-over stairs and heads to the moon dial. Once there, it raises a hand to the sky, intoning: "Moonmaiden, hear this humble servant. Send your light down so the stain may be removed from this site most holy."
In the sky, the waning moon and its belt of glittering tears. They take note. Seeming like an illusion, a trick of the eye, the surface of the nearly empty disk fills anew. A white, soft glow descends upon the dial, throwing a shadow upon the half moon insignia. There is a rumble from within the burrow.
After recovering from the initial shock, Sirius goes to investigate the doors. His hand wanders onto the handle of his ice pick; he is still uneasy about the undead in their midst.
Zenos looking at Sahnar "Thank you for that, is there anything else you can tell us about the tombs and what else lies within?"
Sirius finds that both of the doors within the burrow have opened by themselves. Both contain circular chambers with intricately carved domed ceilings twenty feet high, and each contains a stone sarcophagus. A beam of faint moonlight shines into the two rooms from a circular opening at the top. Someone has turned the northern tomb into living quarters, as evidenced by a rack of drying herbs and an unfurled bedroll behind the sarcophagus.
Sahnar looks down on Perrin upon being addressed. Behind the mummys mask, the voice sounds forlorn.
"This tomb holds the king and queen of the family Daeneiros. I, as their servant, was bid to watch over them. Since thou hast awakened me, my watch has ended." It trails off, and starts slowly wandering into the snowy woods.
Perrin shudders as the undead elf starts speaking to him. Was it going to try to eat him next? He watches in anticipation as the elf turn and starts walking away into the woods. He points at the departing undead, an incredulous expression on his face. Were they really going to let a magical zombie wander off into the woods? Actually, now that he thought about it, that sounded like a great idea! Let the zombie be someone else’s problem.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Aubreen heads to the newly opened chambers, starting with the Northern chamber with the Bedroll he tosses it, searching through the chamber for anything of value or note (Investigation, with Guidance: Unnatural 20).
After looking through the Northern chamber he heads to the Southern one, doing the same (Investigation, with Guidance: 13)
"Now that the tombs are open, do we try to open the sarcophagi?"
Aubreen finds various tools lying around, which, taken together, would amount to the contents of a herbalism kit. These working materials have been untidily cleaned up and the scrapings of crushed herbs and ground root still stain the implements. Various pots around the room hold supplies, such as salt, ginger, small amounts of spices and hide scraps. There is a small pile of tanned leather and two bundles of branches that seem to have been selected for their uniform width and straightness.
The walls are covered in various paintings, all in one color, a sort of pale blue. The paintings depict various animals common to the cold regions, such as snowy owls and hares, goats, reindeer, snowy owlbears, seals and walruses. They're arranged in a semi-circle around a central point, in which humanoid figures are to be seen. The humanoid figures in turn are clustered around a dominating snowflake. This painting seems to be covering the original carving, which depicts elves in various poses and activities.
In contrast, the southern room makes all appearance of having been left in its original state.
Sirius: ”I don’t think we should open the sarcophagi. Kinds seems like graverobbing to go around opening sarcofagi just for the sake of it. I don’t think there’s much chance we’ll get any clues for ending the eternal winter by breaking the sanctity of the grave of some ancient elves.” Sirius starts setting up a fireplace in the northern tomb starting to get ready for the night. ”If you guys are curious, go ahead, but I’ll have no part of it.”
Padding after the others, Perrin nods at Sirius's words. He wholeheartedly agreed with the man, though he additionally didn't want to anger a magical elf zombie that may or may not come back to eat them while they were sleeping. Perrin shudders at the thought, and he can only hope that the zombie chose to go eat someone else instead. Speaking of eating things, his gaze wanders over to the dead moose. They could probably haul it back to town and sell its meat for some good coin, though he didn't know quite how he felt about that. Even the moose was, well, a moose, it could think and talk just like person could. He didn't know what the others thought, but eating something that could talk and think like a person didn't quite sit right with him.
Putting the thought aside, Perrin helps set up camp with Sirius, eager to get his bedroll warmed up by the fire before he had to sleep in it.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Aubreen grunts his approval and acceptance of the words from Sirius. Dropping his pack near the fire he says "Ok but I am curious, lets just see if Torm will grant me his vision." He begins to channel his faith, closing his eyes and swaying while chanting softly. (Ritual: Detect magic). He opens his eyes and slowly moves about the Northern chamber scanning thoroughly before heading to the the Southern chamber.
With his senses enhanced by magic, Aubreen becomes aware of the various tuggings of the weave in the tomb. The moonlight shining into the two circular chambers is evidently achieved by minor evocation magic and no physical opening exists to the outside. The carvings around the chambers come to a life of sorts when viewed with such enhanced senses - the figures are given the illusion of movement as you watch them from different angles. A play of color and light, one that few living people would have seen.
The mirror in the dead-end section gives off a strong aura of divination and abjuration. Only the northern sarcophagus gives off magic - the aura seeping out from under the heavy lid seems to come from two distinct sources, not easily categorized into a magic school.
In the main chamber, the fire is merrily crackling, protected from the elements.
Aubreen glances back towards the main chamber. His curiosity getting the better of him, he whispers a prayer...Torm if my actions are true then guide my hand.
He works on the sarcophagus, pushing, pulling, prying, doing all he can to open the lid. He doesn't want to damage the resting place of a revered elven king, but...
He ruminates on a single thought...The dead have no use for enchantments, they should be brought back to the light of the living to be used in the fight for justice, for righteousness , Torm guide me.
The heavy lid of the sarcophagus must weight about 350 pounds, but that is no match for Aubreens practiced muscles. Slowly it grates to the side as he's applying his entire weight. As he does this, the terrible smell of decay starts to fill the chamber and waft out. In the sarcophagus there are no mummy and no skeletal remains, but rather the rotting corpse of a human woman, wrapped in furs. Aubreens intuitive understanding of medicine allows him to determine that this person must have died a few months ago, with the cold having slowed the decay. Beside the corpse, the half-elf spots a sharkskin pouch. The necks of two crystal bottles emerge from the opening. They are filled with differing liquids.
Sirius, lured over by the horrible stench, takes a peek into the tomb. ”How can a mummy sme…” Sirius sees the relatively freshly dead woman. ”What the hells is this.” He goes into inspect the woman to try to see what killed her. ”Could this be another frost druid perhaps. How did they even get her in there, that lid looks very heavy. And where is the original inhabitor of this sarcophagus?” Sirius thinks aloud. ”Perhaps you were right Aubreen, this is very suspicious. Should we check the other sarcophagus as well?”
Sirius [medicine 7]: The apparent cause of death is fairly easy to tell with some of the fur wrappings moved aside. The stench is almost unbearable, but you see several glistening puncture wounds, about one inch each and smeared with blood, in the chest and stomach areas. Whatever they were caused by, they would be enough to kill.
Aubreen collects the sharkskin pouch and two crystal vials. A quick inspection to ensure they are sealed, and safe he tucks them into his doublet. "I beseeched our Lord Torm for sight, the southern chamber did not reveal anything unknown Sirius. I will take first watch this night." Retiring to the main chamber, he pulls forth a stick of dried berries, and herbs pounded together with a smear of animal fats. Retrieving the pouch he turns them over in his hands. A small taste of the liquids he tries to discern what they are.
Satisfied that he has figured it out, (or accepted that he cant) he walks over to the chamber entrance and stares out into a gently falling snow. These druids, and there are more than what we fought tonight, are... are they, the cause of this endless winter. What is it they desire, surely not to drive the citizens forth, but then...what? Where are the others? Will we find other beasts like the moose, can they lead us back or do the druids each use different methods? Aubreens thoughts drift further, This lottery, the sacrifices, they only fuel the destruction, the fear, the tyranny. How can we stop this madness. Is it even possible to redirect the path of an entire town, nay civilization?