No Rest for the Dead in Avlor

Quote from Esker >>

It sounds like Brix is moving ahead with opening the rest of the sarcophagi... is anybody going so far as to intervene (or, alternatively, help)? The first one took a few minutes to slide off solo. If you're going ahead let me know the order you're going in. Nearest would I guess be the front right; then proceeding clockwise?

(OOC: Yes, front right, then clockwise.)

"I doubt anyone still living even knows what was contained within these sarcophagi!" Brix says to Jarl. (Post got ninja'd)

"I agree with the gnome -- I doubt anyone still living even knows what was contained within these sarcophagi. If it makes you feel any better, can't say you didn't try to stop me!"

EDIT: Before I open the front right sarcophagus, does the robe Brix took still look as if it's on fire, or was the fire centralized in the sarcophagus? 

The fire came with the robe, which Squiggles can tell was the clear origin of the illusion aura.

After another few minutes of pushing, Brix and Squiggles are able to open the front right sarcophagus, having been aided by Squiggles smoothing the stone. Another skeleton dressed in finery greets them silently with its dead stare. Looking through its pockets you find a small key, the head of which is shaped into a question mark. Squiggles doesn't sense any magic from it (or anything else in this sarcophagus).

Detect Magic is wearing off at this point.

The skeleton in the next sarcophagus is wearing a purple robe and a matching cone shaped hat, both of which are decorated with gold colored crescent moons and stars. In its left eye socket it also has a crystal eyeball with a dramatic bright shiny green iris.

The skeleton in the final sarcophagus is in worse condition than the others, with several crushed bones in its feet and legs. In its hand it has a small silvery metal disk with the image of a feather engraved in it.

"How much you want for the robes, hat and eyeball Brix?"

Quote from pocketmouse >>

“Perhaps we shouldn’t go opening the sarcophagi in a temple we had to bribe our way into?” Jarl says. “It seems rude.”

"Technically, we got in for free - I 'reacquired' Shale's coins for him", Balian gives a short chuckle and sticks his hands behind his head, clearly not intending to open any sarcophagi.

"And besides, Jarl has clearly just said that looting a temple we didn't have to bribe our way into isn't rude, which applies here.  If the elf wants to pillage, I'm with him!"

The unmistakable clink of a key makes Balian open one eye.  He then jumps to his feet and darts over to Squiggles.

"Dibs on the key!", he says excitedly.  "I can add it to my collection."

Oops, forgot Shale...

Shale:

     "What do you mean you reacquired my coins?!" Shale calls back to Balian as he sticks his head out. He casts light on his staff so that he can get a better view in the hallway. "I hope you didn't pilfer the donation box again!"

Shale:

Quote from Saute_Monkey >>

     "What do you mean you reacquired my coins?!" Shale calls back to Balian as he sticks his head out. He casts light on his staff so that he can get a better view in the hallway. "I hope you didn't pilfer the donation box again!"

"Nothing like that, my friend", Balian smiles as he hands Shale ten gold coins.  "Let's just say the coins you gave that priestess didn't even get to settle in the bottom of her pocket before she 'mysteriously lost them'."

 "And hey!  I haven't raided a donation box in at least a few weeks!  And those clerics clearly weren't spending that money to help the poor."

“They spend it on the poor once they’ve died, and been abandoned by the living,” Jarl scolds Balian. Wanting no part of it, he turns to investigate the tunnel as well.

OOC: Jarl has 120 ft darkvision and ties for highest perception, he can go first, or second if someone else is desperate to go first, since he can also probably see over most other party members.

"I jest, I jest!", Balian calls over to Jarl, afraid that the druid actually took him seriously.  "I gave up that small time work ages ago.  Put me on the straight and narrow, you all did."

BRIX

Brix takes everything. He looks at the key, scoffs, and throws it at Balian's face. "I have NO USE for a key with an unknown lock."

Brix then holds up the robes (the purple one, not the flaming one), the purple hat and the crystal eyeball, smiling. "Your ring, gnome. I've actually been eyeing that one for quite some time."

[Brix will go behind Jarl. He'll CAUTIOUSLY try on the flaming robe (or the purple one, depending on which robe Squiggles was referring to) and carefully look over the disk.]

Squiggles smiles a wicked smile and rubs a naked looking finger.  "My friend, should you ever wear this ring I will trap your soul inside it! Should you decide on a reasonable price let me know. I'll pay fairly, and promise not to encase you in a Wall of Stone"

Squiggles casts Minor Illusion to create the illusion of a Spectral Being appearing in front of Brix, and moves to join Shale and Jarl.

      "Are we ready to move on?" Shale proceeds out the door.

(I'll take 3rd position.) 

BRIX

(Assuming nothing bad immediately happens when he begins trying on and pulling on the flaming robe or overlooking/biting down on the disk)

"Fair...enough...yes...let's...move," Brix says, paying little attention to the dialogue going on around him. Being too preoccupied with admiring his wares, he unknowingly passes right through the illusion on his way to join the others.

(Still assuming nothing bad immediately happens when he tries on the flaming robe and overlooks the disk, he'll later look through the crystal eye to see if he sees anything.) "Heh heh. Shiny."

Brix appears to be on fire, but the robe doesn't seem to be hurting you. Nothing happens when you bite down on the disc, and when you look through the eye, the world looks a little green and distorted.

So, is the order Jarl, Brix, Shale, Squiggles, Balian?

     "I'd be careful with your new find there, Brix. That robe is sure to draw some attention." 

(Does it give off any light?)

The robe doesn't seem to cast light on any surfaces. It only looks bright when you look right at it.

You head into the passage, which slopes downward for about a hundred yards before you come to a Y-shaped intersection (you're coming down what would be the top left segment of the Y, so it looks like an upside down Y from your perspective). There's a soft right turn that flattens out, which has two to three inches of water covering the floor, and a sharp left that slopes back upward.

“That’s probably another entrance,” Jarl says, gesturing towards the route that leads back upwards. “Let’s try this way first.” He starts towards the right. Perception check: 26