"Well, the right kind of knowledge is the greatest of weapons if used correctly, isn't it?" the Kelemvorite nods at Cato, before joining Graxx and Asley at the door. "I'll take it your eagerness means we have a deal. Come, I'll show you the way to the Temple of the Silent Shroud. It is small, especially compared to the size of the graveyard, but we should be able to get there within a few minutes, no more than 10 or so, really."
Looking outside, Graxx sees Darrius standing a good 50 feet away from the Tea Kettle's entrance. He is talking to an obscured female figure, sporting a large black afro with a red ribbon tied around the base. The barbarian recognizes the figure as being Nanika, his companion's sister. After a quick discussion, she storms northward. Darrius looks back, seeing Graxx at the door of the inn, waves a friendly goodbye, and follows his sister into adventures unknown. Graxx has a feeling this might not be the last time he sees the siblings.
"Well, shall we?" Brother Keefe urges the group.
(OOC: You guys have a short walk across Podol Plaza and then over the west arm of the Stojanow River. This should put you at the door of the Valhingen Graveyard. A few minutes of walking through that and you'd reach the Temple of the Silent Shroud. Let me know if there is anything your characters are doing or saying during this short walk. Here's a map to make things a bit easier).
"Aye, hold her horses!"Drazzim grabs his recently ordered drink and downs it. "Can't let a good drink go to waste." He then pulls his pack onto his back, stowing his greataxe on the side of the pack and carrying the glaive in hand. He follows after the group as quickly as his stubby dwarven legs will allow.
Asley takes in the sights of the graveyard. As he walks he asks Cato more questions about his studies, only half listening as his excitement for this new adventure courses through him.
Rag slowly steps out from a corner and pulls down his hood, revealing a rather short(even for a halfling) not even 2.5 feet tall, with brown hear and blue eyes. He joins in the conversation but appears to mainly be observing the room exits and listening to everything being said. "Excuse but I am in need of work and can offer my services". He then sits down with back against a wall facing the door.
A bemused voice ahead chimes in just ahead, "Interesting that you would use the word 'kill' when in a graveyard."
The speaker is Neya,a dark-skinned woman of average build, if a bit toned, standing in front of a grave. She's not looking at it, more like surveying the area around it as a whole, while writing down something.
"Sorry, didn't mean to eavesdrop. It's hard not to overhear when places like these are absolutely silent."
Just as Graxx, Drazzim, Utar, Cato, and Asley leave Madame Freona's Tea Kettle, Brother Keefe chimes in once again "Ah well, I almost forgot. I must admit your group is not the first one I approached with this request. You see, I had a couple of fixers help me in the past with problems like a rat infestation here or mundane grave-robbery there, so I asked for their help too. One of them, the halfling you just saw in that corner there, asked if he could keep an eye on the group from a distance, just to be sure the people I picked wouldn't try to take advantage of me. Apologies for the slight deceit. Anyway, this is Rag. I have already explained everything to him. You can trust him. Alright, to the graveyard!"
The walk is a short one. When the group arrives at Valhingen Graveyard, you notice that it is actually quite well maintained, if somber. Brother Keefe explains, noticing your surprised faces "Doomguide Yovir Glandon, my superior and the senior member of the Most Solemn Order of the Silent Shroud, personally sees to the maintenance of the grounds. He is not here very often, but he is good at his job."
Seeing Neya 'introduce' herself, Brother Keefe adds in relief "Ah, and here is the second fixer I mentioned. You can also trust her. C'mon now, to my abode!"
You enter the Temple of the Silent Shroud, a solemn, cold structure made out of dark-gray stone. A single large statue stands right at the center of the circular atrium: a vertical skeletal arm, starting at the elbow and ending a good 25 feet up, where it steadily holds a perfectly balanced scale. Dim candles are the only source of light here. Brother Keefe makes a point of staying silent throughout the entire walk to his personal room. Once there, the devout man opens a small armoire, allowing you to peek inside, and then closes the door to his room. It is a tight fit with all of you inside.
Brother Keefe then finally breaks his silence. "Well, here they are." You see the following items within:
An old but well kept, complete suit of chain mail. "This was given to me upon becoming a cleric of Kelemvor, a long time ago, even before they started engraving our armor pieces with the symbol of our god. I have never used it, but I now hope it is of use to one of you aiding me in this quest. It has a minor enchantment allowing it to fit whoever wears it, as well as making it quite easy to remove in a pinch". You all recognize his description to match that of a Cast-Off Armor, Chain Mail.
A tightly-tied, dusty piece of rolled-up parchment. "This is a Spell Scroll. It contains the only spell I have ever tried to learn, but to no avail. Utar, you are a devout man like me, so you should be able to use it. It contains one casting of the spell Protection from Evil and Good."
A small vial of bubbly, red liquid. You all immediately recognize it as a vial of Potion of Healing of the common variety.
(OOC: Please assign these items as you see fit, perhaps in the OOC chat if you prefer).
"When you are ready, we can head to Xandria's Crypt. I must now be silent again," Brother Keefe says, opening his room's door.
(OOC: Alright, let's take the discussion on who is keeping what to the OOC chat, like Grx did here. I'll continue with the plot in this thread).
Next, Brother Keefe takes you to Xandria's crypt. You can tell he is getting nervous as you approach, likely in anticipation of finally investigating this rumor. The crypt of Xandria is a nicely appointed stone and marble building, roughly 20 feet square. Brother Keefe produces a key to unlock it. The interior is equally fine. The walls are carved and painted with various scenes showing a lovely human woman in different locales. There are 10 of these larger carvings on the walls, accompanied by other various smaller ones. The lid of the marble sarcophagus in the center is carved with the likeness of the same beautiful human woman in the prime of her life. "Well, here we are." Brother Keefe says. "Time to open the sarcophagus. Are you ready?"
Brother Keefe pries open the lid of the sarcophagus with the skill of a man who has done this before. It reveals a jumbled pile of bones, but at the moment, the Kelemvorite is the only one with a proper angle to peer inside with any accuracy. As the lid slides to the opposite side of sarcophagus with a loud thump, Brother Keefe gasps in shock, his eye unblinking and staring into the opened place of rest. A few moments after the lid is removed, a scraping sound echoes through the crypt. The door closes and seals, and a hissing sound makes you aware that some kind of gas is entering the crypt. It does not smell pleasant.
(OOC: This is a timed challenge, so we'll be going into initiative. On your turn, describe what you are doing and roll the appropriate skill check accompanying it).
Asley gathers up his bag and staff and stands next to Graxx at the door, excited to get moving.
"Well, the right kind of knowledge is the greatest of weapons if used correctly, isn't it?" the Kelemvorite nods at Cato, before joining Graxx and Asley at the door. "I'll take it your eagerness means we have a deal. Come, I'll show you the way to the Temple of the Silent Shroud. It is small, especially compared to the size of the graveyard, but we should be able to get there within a few minutes, no more than 10 or so, really."
Looking outside, Graxx sees Darrius standing a good 50 feet away from the Tea Kettle's entrance. He is talking to an obscured female figure, sporting a large black afro with a red ribbon tied around the base. The barbarian recognizes the figure as being Nanika, his companion's sister. After a quick discussion, she storms northward. Darrius looks back, seeing Graxx at the door of the inn, waves a friendly goodbye, and follows his sister into adventures unknown. Graxx has a feeling this might not be the last time he sees the siblings.
"Well, shall we?" Brother Keefe urges the group.
(OOC: You guys have a short walk across Podol Plaza and then over the west arm of the Stojanow River. This should put you at the door of the Valhingen Graveyard. A few minutes of walking through that and you'd reach the Temple of the Silent Shroud. Let me know if there is anything your characters are doing or saying during this short walk. Here's a map to make things a bit easier).
Utar pays his morning tab, stands from the table and hefts his warhammer up, leaning it's head on his shoulder. Nodding towards the door "Well dwarf?"
"Aye, hold her horses!" Drazzim grabs his recently ordered drink and downs it. "Can't let a good drink go to waste." He then pulls his pack onto his back, stowing his greataxe on the side of the pack and carrying the glaive in hand. He follows after the group as quickly as his stubby dwarven legs will allow.
Asley takes in the sights of the graveyard. As he walks he asks Cato more questions about his studies, only half listening as his excitement for this new adventure courses through him.
Graxx walks beside Asley. He turns to him and says, “You said you were good at killin with magic. Do you know any non-killin magic?”
“A bit. Some protective. Some utility. Mostly damaging. I find they provide the greatest magical relief.”
Rag slowly steps out from a corner and pulls down his hood, revealing a rather short(even for a halfling) not even 2.5 feet tall, with brown hear and blue eyes. He joins in the conversation but appears to mainly be observing the room exits and listening to everything being said. "Excuse but I am in need of work and can offer my services". He then sits down with back against a wall facing the door.
Rag follows the group as they leave the inn and follow as they enter the graveyard. He tends to just watching and listening to everything going on.
Graxx to Asley, "Very neat! I have only seen the killing kind. The shaman of my tribe was able to use some to heal but it was rare."
A bemused voice ahead chimes in just ahead, "Interesting that you would use the word 'kill' when in a graveyard."
The speaker is Neya, a dark-skinned woman of average build, if a bit toned, standing in front of a grave. She's not looking at it, more like surveying the area around it as a whole, while writing down something.
"Sorry, didn't mean to eavesdrop. It's hard not to overhear when places like these are absolutely silent."
Extended Signature
Just as Graxx, Drazzim, Utar, Cato, and Asley leave Madame Freona's Tea Kettle, Brother Keefe chimes in once again "Ah well, I almost forgot. I must admit your group is not the first one I approached with this request. You see, I had a couple of fixers help me in the past with problems like a rat infestation here or mundane grave-robbery there, so I asked for their help too. One of them, the halfling you just saw in that corner there, asked if he could keep an eye on the group from a distance, just to be sure the people I picked wouldn't try to take advantage of me. Apologies for the slight deceit. Anyway, this is Rag. I have already explained everything to him. You can trust him. Alright, to the graveyard!"
The walk is a short one. When the group arrives at Valhingen Graveyard, you notice that it is actually quite well maintained, if somber. Brother Keefe explains, noticing your surprised faces "Doomguide Yovir Glandon, my superior and the senior member of the Most Solemn Order of the Silent Shroud, personally sees to the maintenance of the grounds. He is not here very often, but he is good at his job."
Seeing Neya 'introduce' herself, Brother Keefe adds in relief "Ah, and here is the second fixer I mentioned. You can also trust her. C'mon now, to my abode!"
"So YOU are party the Brother Keefe said he was putting together! Sorry for not introducing myself. Call me Neya."
Extended Signature
You enter the Temple of the Silent Shroud, a solemn, cold structure made out of dark-gray stone. A single large statue stands right at the center of the circular atrium: a vertical skeletal arm, starting at the elbow and ending a good 25 feet up, where it steadily holds a perfectly balanced scale. Dim candles are the only source of light here. Brother Keefe makes a point of staying silent throughout the entire walk to his personal room. Once there, the devout man opens a small armoire, allowing you to peek inside, and then closes the door to his room. It is a tight fit with all of you inside.
Brother Keefe then finally breaks his silence. "Well, here they are." You see the following items within:
(OOC: Please assign these items as you see fit, perhaps in the OOC chat if you prefer).
"When you are ready, we can head to Xandria's Crypt. I must now be silent again," Brother Keefe says, opening his room's door.
(OOC: If no one wants the potion, Neya can carry it around.)
Extended Signature
OOC Utar is fine to take the scroll if no one else wants it, otherwise whoever wants it can take it.
(OOC: Alright, let's take the discussion on who is keeping what to the OOC chat, like Grx did here. I'll continue with the plot in this thread).
Next, Brother Keefe takes you to Xandria's crypt. You can tell he is getting nervous as you approach, likely in anticipation of finally investigating this rumor. The crypt of Xandria is a nicely appointed stone and marble building, roughly 20 feet square. Brother Keefe produces a key to unlock it. The interior is equally fine. The walls are carved and painted with various scenes showing a lovely human woman in different locales. There are 10 of these larger carvings on the walls, accompanied by other various smaller ones. The lid of the marble sarcophagus in the center is carved with the likeness of the same beautiful human woman in the prime of her life. "Well, here we are." Brother Keefe says. "Time to open the sarcophagus. Are you ready?"
Brother Keefe pries open the lid of the sarcophagus with the skill of a man who has done this before. It reveals a jumbled pile of bones, but at the moment, the Kelemvorite is the only one with a proper angle to peer inside with any accuracy. As the lid slides to the opposite side of sarcophagus with a loud thump, Brother Keefe gasps in shock, his eye unblinking and staring into the opened place of rest. A few moments after the lid is removed, a scraping sound echoes through the crypt. The door closes and seals, and a hissing sound makes you aware that some kind of gas is entering the crypt. It does not smell pleasant.
(OOC: This is a timed challenge, so we'll be going into initiative. On your turn, describe what you are doing and roll the appropriate skill check accompanying it).
INITIATIVE ROLLS:
(Rag, you are up. The Crypt counts as "surprised" for the first round, so nothing happens for now on its turn. Brother Keefe would then go next).
Rag immediately starts searching the room......
23
(Wisdom Perception Check)