DDEX-01-04 Dues for the Dead

He can’t quite be sure, but as Casmenos nears the door, he thinks that he hears...singing?  The door and the singer make words indistinguishable, but you think you hear one single voice, backed more by enthusiasm than talent.

Tumal looks at Cassyt. "Do you recognize that voice?"

Cassyt shakes her head. "Trust me, if I had heard a voice like that before, I'd remember it.

"Are we all prepared for the worst?"  Casmenos asks as he eyes how to open the battered door.

Tumal gives Casmenos a leveled look. After a very short pause, he nods once.

Marrow shrugs.  I guess we'll find out.  Go ahead and open it.  He remains at the far side of the group, watching for anything that might approach from behind them.

Bastian watches the area around the door carefully, ready to cover those who open it. He gives an affirmative nod to Casmenos' query.

Casmenos opens the door, making sure not to block the opening when doing so.

Casmenos looks at the impostors, none too impressed.  "What in Kelemvor's name are you three doing down here.  Confess now and repent in the eyes of Kelemvor, and things may go better for all of you."

Persuasion check: 11

Casmenos, and anybody who followed him in, please give me a perception check.

 Perception: 6

You are bombarded with thank yous, as the the two put their shortswords away, and the half-orc comes over, looking for all intents and purposes like he wants a hug.  "Please, please, have you any food or water?  We have been trapped here for what must have been days, with those things banging at the door."

Casmenos, you can easily see they each have some trinkets stuffed in their pockets matching what is in the various alcoves and crevices of this room.

Tumal did follow Cosmenos in because he was curious about the singing.

Perception on the physical state of the three (medicine would be the same if that's better): 8

Insight into whether they're telling the truth: 4

"Please, good sirs," the Tiefling begins, "we are but simple explorers who came in response to the rumors of undead.  We only meant to look, and those horrible walking corpses trapped us in here.  We did not mean to stay long -- all we had was a flagon of whiskey.  We are so hungry, and just want to leave."  You notice now that the half-orc stinks of whiskey, and takes up his song again, slurring enough that even those of you understand Orcish can make out no intelligible words.

@Tumal: you also notice that they clearly have pockets full of stuff from these catacombs.  It is abundantly clearly that they are telling the truth about their condition, at least.  They are tired, hungry, and glad to not be trapped.  More than that you cannot discern, but, as of yet, they have not answered.

Pointing to their pockets, Casmenos growls angrily, "Defiling the resting places of the dead, in Kelemvor's house, and lying is a good way to make sure Kelemvor remembers you when you meet him.  Did you think of that?  Everyone meets Kelemvor.

You will not get a crumb of food, nor a drop of water from me.  If you don't want this to be your final resting place, I suggest you return your ill gotten trinkets and make an offering of your own.  Something that is obviously yours, not something that was already here.

Do this now, ask Kelemvor's forgiveness this moment and I will let you climb out of here and run far away because if I find you when we're done clearing out this undead problem, I will drag you in front of the Doomguide."