The mummified figure, a man dressed in what looks to be mage type robs, his skin drawn taunt over his bones, you can make out some typical cloth wrappings hanging here and there off of it.
Mathias - from your arcane studies you can tell this does not appear to be a lich, it looks more along the lines of a mummy. You don't recall much in your studies dealing with them though. You do notice something odd about the setting, the candle has no melted wax about it's base.
The figure sets, unmoving...before it a few sheets of parchment and a feather quill lay on the desk.
Along one wall you see what may have once been a sturdy built shelving unit that may have been lined with many potion bottles. The glass of each has been reduced to glass dust and the wood now dry and brittle. The air here is stale and unmoving.
What do you do? Move closer to inspect the papers on the desk? Move to inspect the figure? Back out of the room and leave? Or...beat the mummified bones of the long dead wizard to dust?
Sylvantras takes his first hesitant step, stops and studies the figure...nothing, no movement, no breathing...nothing. He takes another step, as he sets his foot down on to the wooden floor the floor boards let out a sudden and surprising moaning creak that causes everyone to gasp just a little.
You have taken three steps, the desk is two feet from you...still no action/reaction from the figure. At this distance you can tell the candle, it's flame dancing and flicking about, gives off no heat...it appears to very much be a flame, but no heat, no melting wax...that seems "off"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The wood elf relaxes a bit, noticing the lack of heat and melting wax. "An illusion?" he asks, taking another step toward the figure, muttering a brief incantation before investigating the candle closer.
*Casting Guidance. Investigation 5 - for the life of me, I can't find the simple d4 to roll on my sheet. Not that it matters with the 1 rolled on the investigation*
Sylvantras and Mathias inspect the desk top without touching anything...yet...the parchment does have writing on it, you can't make out exactly what it says through the dust but you can pick out the following words: the, is, a, prolong, forest and it looks like a reference to a shadow man. Without touching it to be sure the candle looks very real.
Marion, whatever once rested upon the shelf has long ago given into the torturing of time. The shelves are covered in a fine glass dusting. A shadow moves as you absently listen to Mathias reading something, he softly speaks the words forest and shadow man, your jaw drops, you turn to look at him but instead your eyes are fixed on the creature who has turned his face to you, his eyeless gaze sends a shiver down your back, please roll me a wisdom save.
Sylvantras and Mathias please make a perception roll.
Mathias as you watch Marion you see this feeling of horror flood over him as he tries to scream, his mouth opening but nothing coming out, he raises his hand to point at the creature but he struggles to do so becoming paralyzed with fear.
Marion as you stare into the empty eye sockets of the creature fear overcomes you, you want to scream, opening your mouth but unable to make a sound other than a whimper. Then the shadow man walks out of the dark from behind the desk, you attempt to raise your hand to point it out but find that you are paralyzed by fear.
Sylvantras as you look at the creature you swear the dried taunt skin of it's lips curl into a smile, it's eyeless gaze fixed upon Marion. You have the initiative, your action?
Sylvantras swings his scimitar in a slashing arc at the creature, slicing through rotten robe, dry skin and cracking fragile bone. His offhand attack cuts as well from the other side. Both attacks connect and deal damage.
The creature whips his head around to the ranger, as Sylvantras's offhand pulls back to position for another strike the mummy swings at it, the fingers of his hand brushing over the sleeve of your garment, soo close the mummy says, it's voice dry as sand and horse sounding.
Just then, Marion's vocal chords free up and a high pitch scream of anguished horror cuts the room. Marion, you have control of your body now. A quick look around the room you see the mummy still behind the desk, Sylvantras opposite him with weapons in hand, Mathias on the opposite side of the desk from you, and no shadow man.
Mathias and Marion please roll for initiative. Sylvantras has rolled 18, the mummy a 10. Enter round two.
"Uh guys...I think there's something undead in here!" the ranger nervously exclaims, as he raises his blades to a ready position.
*Imminent Initiative Roll 8*
Mathias attempts to fathom what this specter could be.
Arcana 18 initiative 13
Marion frowned, then squared her stance, ready for anything. *Init 22*
Old school AD&D player, now learning to be a better DM dad
The mummified figure, a man dressed in what looks to be mage type robs, his skin drawn taunt over his bones, you can make out some typical cloth wrappings hanging here and there off of it.
Mathias - from your arcane studies you can tell this does not appear to be a lich, it looks more along the lines of a mummy. You don't recall much in your studies dealing with them though. You do notice something odd about the setting, the candle has no melted wax about it's base.
The figure sets, unmoving...before it a few sheets of parchment and a feather quill lay on the desk.
Along one wall you see what may have once been a sturdy built shelving unit that may have been lined with many potion bottles. The glass of each has been reduced to glass dust and the wood now dry and brittle. The air here is stale and unmoving.
What do you do? Move closer to inspect the papers on the desk? Move to inspect the figure? Back out of the room and leave? Or...beat the mummified bones of the long dead wizard to dust?
Sylvantras takes a deep breath, steeling his resolve as he takes a few cautious steps toward the figure.
*Watching for movement or anything else that seems off, well more off anyway. Perception 22*
Sylvantras takes his first hesitant step, stops and studies the figure...nothing, no movement, no breathing...nothing. He takes another step, as he sets his foot down on to the wooden floor the floor boards let out a sudden and surprising moaning creak that causes everyone to gasp just a little.
You have taken three steps, the desk is two feet from you...still no action/reaction from the figure. At this distance you can tell the candle, it's flame dancing and flicking about, gives off no heat...it appears to very much be a flame, but no heat, no melting wax...that seems "off"
Mathias tries to edge around the room to get close enough to inspect the figure…
investigation 7
"I think it is DEAD dead." Marion shrugs, and moves to inspect the potions shelf.*Investigation 21*
Old school AD&D player, now learning to be a better DM dad
The wood elf relaxes a bit, noticing the lack of heat and melting wax. "An illusion?" he asks, taking another step toward the figure, muttering a brief incantation before investigating the candle closer.
*Casting Guidance. Investigation 5 - for the life of me, I can't find the simple d4 to roll on my sheet. Not that it matters with the 1 rolled on the investigation*
Sylvantras and Mathias inspect the desk top without touching anything...yet...the parchment does have writing on it, you can't make out exactly what it says through the dust but you can pick out the following words: the, is, a, prolong, forest and it looks like a reference to a shadow man. Without touching it to be sure the candle looks very real.
Marion, whatever once rested upon the shelf has long ago given into the torturing of time. The shelves are covered in a fine glass dusting. A shadow moves as you absently listen to Mathias reading something, he softly speaks the words forest and shadow man, your jaw drops, you turn to look at him but instead your eyes are fixed on the creature who has turned his face to you, his eyeless gaze sends a shiver down your back, please roll me a wisdom save.
Sylvantras and Mathias please make a perception roll.
*Sylvantras - Perception 21*
Mathias perception 5 LOL blind/oblivious…
Sylvantras out of the corner of your eye you notice the figures head turn toward Marion. Please roll initiative.
Mathias movement out of the corner of your eye, you look up to see Marion staring at the figure with a look of horror on his face.
We'll pause here for Marion's saving throw before we move on...
*Marion WIS save 1*
Old school AD&D player, now learning to be a better DM dad
*Sylvantras - Initiative 18*
Mathias as you watch Marion you see this feeling of horror flood over him as he tries to scream, his mouth opening but nothing coming out, he raises his hand to point at the creature but he struggles to do so becoming paralyzed with fear.
Marion as you stare into the empty eye sockets of the creature fear overcomes you, you want to scream, opening your mouth but unable to make a sound other than a whimper. Then the shadow man walks out of the dark from behind the desk, you attempt to raise your hand to point it out but find that you are paralyzed by fear.
Sylvantras as you look at the creature you swear the dried taunt skin of it's lips curl into a smile, it's eyeless gaze fixed upon Marion. You have the initiative, your action?
Sylvantras focuses his primal edge and launches himself toward the grinning corpse, blades slashing away.
*Bonus Action - Casting Hunter's Mark; Primary Attack: AC 12; 7 Damage w/ Hunter's Mark, Off-Hand (Nick) Attack: AC 15; 9 Damage w/ Hunter's Mark*
Sylvantras swings his scimitar in a slashing arc at the creature, slicing through rotten robe, dry skin and cracking fragile bone. His offhand attack cuts as well from the other side. Both attacks connect and deal damage.
The creature whips his head around to the ranger, as Sylvantras's offhand pulls back to position for another strike the mummy swings at it, the fingers of his hand brushing over the sleeve of your garment, soo close the mummy says, it's voice dry as sand and horse sounding.
Just then, Marion's vocal chords free up and a high pitch scream of anguished horror cuts the room. Marion, you have control of your body now. A quick look around the room you see the mummy still behind the desk, Sylvantras opposite him with weapons in hand, Mathias on the opposite side of the desk from you, and no shadow man.
Mathias and Marion please roll for initiative. Sylvantras has rolled 18, the mummy a 10. Enter round two.
The ranger presses his attack, slashing at the mummy two more times.
*Primary AC 22; 10 Damage w/ Hunter's Mark, Off-Hand AC 10; 11 Damage w/ Hunter's Mark*
*Init 21*
The panic in Marion's eyes hardens into resolve...Marion's blades hum with power as she strikes out at the apparition.
*Primary 18 to hit for 4 dmg, Nick 10 to hit for 7 dmg*
Old school AD&D player, now learning to be a better DM dad