Taking deep calming breaths, Omen closes his eyes for a moment to regain his center and calm.
"What can cause people to tremble in fear just by calling out." Omen asks himself out loud.
He lets the thoughts run over his mind eventually running through his limited understanding of the Arcane to try and find an answer.
Arcane: 11 (rolled with disadvantage)
Omen turns to his companions. "Any ideas of what caused this unnatural fear?" he pauses.
"It' appears this alchemist is still alive and casting spells, it seems."
Omen thinks for a moment. "I apologize for not doing a better job with my surveillance. I should have done a better job." he says to the others.
Again Omen is deep in thought, voicing what his going through his head: "Ok, the house is occupied and a body was found that had some type of invasive worm that attacks."
Omen waits for the others to respond while thinking to himself.
"Don't beat yourself up Omen, whatever it was was unnatural. If everyone is feeling themselves again, I say we find out exactly what we're dealing with" with that Qiv walks to the top of the stairs and starts to descend, again. (Given there are no objections)
"If the alchemist set a spell on the basement would he have to alive for us to set it off?"Red questions glancing around at the state of decay the house is in. "I still find it difficult to believe anyone is living here." She approaches the stairs after after Qivys. While her nerves have settled, she still has her instrument out, cradled in her arms at the ready.
"What can cause people to tremble in fear just by calling out." Omen asks himself out loud. He lets the thoughts run over his mind eventually running through his limited understanding of the Arcane to try and find an answer. Arcane: 11 (rolled with disadvantage)
The fear has passed (and Omen and Red are no longer at disadvantage - that'd be a 14 Arcana check) but Omen doesn't come to any solid conclusions. The shrieks were definitely of an Arcane nature, but the fear itself was natural – it was just that unnerving.
Qivys, meanwhile, starts to descend again, but upon stepping on the first tread...
AAAAAAAAAAI YAGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH! HGGGHHHAAIIII...
Hideous screams again rise from the cellar below. It is less unnerving this time, however. Perhaps, because, oddly, it sounds like exactly the same screams. It is very loud, however, and still deeply unsettling, but not debilitatingly so.
Kas just about leaps out of his skin at the sound of the scream, then begins laughing. "Well, I suppose that's one mystery solved! 'Good news, Mr. Salomar -- the unnerving screams that have been upsetting the whole town for months? Just a VERY squeaky step! We'll take that 100 gold now, please.'" He laughs so hard that he's a little afraid he might reopen the wound in his side. Wiping the tears from his eyes, "Still, I suppose we should try to figure out who's been stepping on that step. Lead on, Sir Qivys, and I'll be right behind you. Unless we see any more grubs -- then you're on your own." He'll follow the others down the stairs and retrieve his rapier and lantern. He'd like to know what's in the corpse's pack, but will NOT get anywhere near it.
You descend the stairs into the dank cellar once again. The body remains where you left it, in the center of a trashed wine cellar, surrounded by sliced and squashed grubs. Goaded on by Kas, Qivys pokes the corpse with his hammer, but there appear to be no remaining living grubs within.
Before going anywhere Omen will pull out a torch and light it. "Not going down to a basement without a light" he says "Or someway to start a fire." he finishes.
With that he will continue with the others.
Once we get to the area where the body. Omen, though not proficient, will examine the long sword on the ground. he will look to his dagger then the long sword and, no matter how damaged it may be he will pick it up, turning to the group and say:
"I may not be able to use it well but I can swing it as a last resort."
Qivys leads the group down the shrieking stairs cautiously. Scanning the room he lets his gaze settle on the scene of he bug attack. When he is certain there are no more bugs he approaches the body. He glances at the shield (comparing it to his own) but focuses on the backpack. After removing it he hands it to Omen "You seem to have a keener eye than I, Omen. Would you look through this to see if there are any clues to who this is, or was?"
While Omen is rifling through the backpack, Qiv will attempt to remove the armour from the corpse. Taking care to remove ALL the grub guts.
"I would hope that my hammer is all you will need Omen. I swear that while I'm breathing, you shall not need to swing a sword. Some of that magic, perhaps, but not a sword. That goes for all of you." He bows his head with that last sentence.
(whats that against the south wall? a fireplace or something? Looks like a couch lol)
Yes, it's an old fireplace. It show no signs of recent use. Near it, however, are those same fresh boot marks Red saw earlier (in the scullery heading downstairs.) The tracks continue to the south wall of this chamber and stop abruptly at the wall.
Omen, though not proficient, will examine the long sword on the ground.
Omen examines the longsword. It's an ordinary one, but in good condition.
He glances at the shield (comparing it to his own) but focuses on the backpack.
Qivys examines the shield, which is also in good condition. It's an ordinary shield. The plate mail is banged up - it looks like it has seen at least one brutal clubbing - but still very usable.
Omen and Qivys also manage to get the backpack out from under the body. It contains a bedroll, a mess kit, a tinderbox, 10 torches, and 50 feet of hempen rope.
(Feel free to divvy up and add to your inventory. Qivys, the plate mail fits you if you want.)
Qiv says a prayer of thanks to the fallen soldier. He dons the armour and stows his chainmail in his backpack. Taking time to adjust the armour just right he turns to the group "So, how do I look?" he says with a smile. Kas' joke has lightened his mood a little. He also straps the second shield to his pack, for now at least.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Kasimir:
"Careful, everyone. The trap on the stairs was a warning; the next one we find may be more dangerous." Seeing the boot tracks, I'd like to check all along the south wall for traps 17. (I don't know whether you'd want Investigation or Perception, but they're both the same +2 for me.)
Kasimir finds no traps, but he does locate a sliding panel – a secret door – on the south wall. It appears as though the boot wearer must have exited through this door.
Seeing Kas open a secret passage and then step back, he gives him a nod of understanding. This is my purpose, protect those closest to me. With that thought in mind he strides into the now revealed passageway, hammer at the ready. "Stick close gang. Who knows what this alchemist has in store for us yet" He begins to hum an old dwarven tune as he walks. He can't tell if it is to calm his nerves, or because he's actually enjoying himself.
Under the Mountain dark and tall The King has come unto his hall! His foe is dead, the Worm of Dread, And ever so his foes shall fall.
The sword is sharp, the spear is long, The arrow swift, the Gate is strong; The heart is bold that looks on gold; The dwarves no more shall suffer wrong.
The dwarves of yore made mighty spells, While hammers fells like ringing bells In places deep, where dark things sleep, In hollow halls beneath the fells.
(OoC: Yes, it's ripped straight from Tolkien himself, but it's way too early in the morning to be writing my own songs)
Qivys strides through the secret door, the others follow.
This torchlit chamber was once a large cellar, but it has since been converted into living quarters. Ten crude beds stand along the south wall, each with a wooden locker at its foot. A long wooden trestle table ringed by rickety stools dominates the center of the room. Metal cutlery, cups, and dirty plates sit atop the table. A cookstove is installed near the table, and evidence of recently cooked meals sits in pots atop it. A large ham hangs from a loop of twine near the stove. A sturdy set of stairs leads to a trapdoor in the ceiling above. There are two wooden doors in the east side of the room.
More immediately, there are also three goons wearing a lot of leather, crouched in position twenty feet in front of you, two with crossbows and one with a longbow, ready and aimed at Qivys' face.
Their obvious preparation wasted, the three humans are fumbling their initial volley, but their intent is clear: You are under attack. But the four of you are quicker on the draw.
One of the crossbow-wielders is an older man with long grey hair; the other appears to be a teenaged boy missing most of his teeth. The longbow-wielder is a wild-eyed woman with a crazy head of hair. "Bye-bye!" she shouts as she fumbles to aim at Qivys' face.
Omen, Qivys, Red, and Kas may all take an action first.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Omen
Omen will make a half move to get himself in front of the group, pushing by if need be. He will yell "Thunder Strike" as he stomps his foot on the ground directly in front of him, casting Thunderwave.
Constitution save: 12
Damage: 11
If Saves: 1/2 damage
Fails save: full damage + pushed 10 ft. away from Omen
Added: all unsecure objects in the 15 ft. cube in front of him are pushed back 10 ft. (hoping it messes with the missile shots as well :))
Omen races ahead, leaping into the midst of this trio of assailants, and lets loose an arcane explosion.
Saves: 10, 5, and 6
The boom is nearly deafening. The younger man is thrown over the beds and slammed against the southern stone wall. He is unconscious or dead. The older man manages to remain on his feet, but appears seriously injured.
The wild-eyed woman with the longbow is thrown against the wall further east, toward the doors, and seems to be quite badly hurt.
The three easternmost beds are upended and mostly shattered. One of the footlockers is blown open, revealing a load of dirty laundry.
Omen
Taking deep calming breaths, Omen closes his eyes for a moment to regain his center and calm.
"What can cause people to tremble in fear just by calling out." Omen asks himself out loud.
He lets the thoughts run over his mind eventually running through his limited understanding of the Arcane to try and find an answer.
Arcane: 11 (rolled with disadvantage)
Omen turns to his companions. "Any ideas of what caused this unnatural fear?" he pauses.
"It' appears this alchemist is still alive and casting spells, it seems."
Omen thinks for a moment. "I apologize for not doing a better job with my surveillance. I should have done a better job." he says to the others.
Again Omen is deep in thought, voicing what his going through his head: "Ok, the house is occupied and a body was found that had some type of invasive worm that attacks."
Omen waits for the others to respond while thinking to himself.
Qivys
"Don't beat yourself up Omen, whatever it was was unnatural. If everyone is feeling themselves again, I say we find out exactly what we're dealing with" with that Qiv walks to the top of the stairs and starts to descend, again. (Given there are no objections)
Red
"If the alchemist set a spell on the basement would he have to alive for us to set it off?" Red questions glancing around at the state of decay the house is in. "I still find it difficult to believe anyone is living here." She approaches the stairs after after Qivys. While her nerves have settled, she still has her instrument out, cradled in her arms at the ready.
The fear has passed (and Omen and Red are no longer at disadvantage - that'd be a 14 Arcana check) but Omen doesn't come to any solid conclusions. The shrieks were definitely of an Arcane nature, but the fear itself was natural – it was just that unnerving.
Qivys, meanwhile, starts to descend again, but upon stepping on the first tread...
AAAAAAAAAAI YAGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH! HGGGHHHAAIIII...
Hideous screams again rise from the cellar below. It is less unnerving this time, however. Perhaps, because, oddly, it sounds like exactly the same screams. It is very loud, however, and still deeply unsettling, but not debilitatingly so.
Kasimir:
Kas just about leaps out of his skin at the sound of the scream, then begins laughing. "Well, I suppose that's one mystery solved! 'Good news, Mr. Salomar -- the unnerving screams that have been upsetting the whole town for months? Just a VERY squeaky step! We'll take that 100 gold now, please.'" He laughs so hard that he's a little afraid he might reopen the wound in his side. Wiping the tears from his eyes, "Still, I suppose we should try to figure out who's been stepping on that step. Lead on, Sir Qivys, and I'll be right behind you. Unless we see any more grubs -- then you're on your own." He'll follow the others down the stairs and retrieve his rapier and lantern. He'd like to know what's in the corpse's pack, but will NOT get anywhere near it.
You descend the stairs into the dank cellar once again. The body remains where you left it, in the center of a trashed wine cellar, surrounded by sliced and squashed grubs. Goaded on by Kas, Qivys pokes the corpse with his hammer, but there appear to be no remaining living grubs within.
(whats that against the south wall? a fireplace or something? Looks like a couch lol)
Omen
Before going anywhere Omen will pull out a torch and light it. "Not going down to a basement without a light" he says "Or someway to start a fire." he finishes.
With that he will continue with the others.
Once we get to the area where the body. Omen, though not proficient, will examine the long sword on the ground. he will look to his dagger then the long sword and, no matter how damaged it may be he will pick it up, turning to the group and say:
"I may not be able to use it well but I can swing it as a last resort."
Qivys
Qivys leads the group down the shrieking stairs cautiously. Scanning the room he lets his gaze settle on the scene of he bug attack. When he is certain there are no more bugs he approaches the body. He glances at the shield (comparing it to his own) but focuses on the backpack. After removing it he hands it to Omen "You seem to have a keener eye than I, Omen. Would you look through this to see if there are any clues to who this is, or was?"
While Omen is rifling through the backpack, Qiv will attempt to remove the armour from the corpse. Taking care to remove ALL the grub guts.
"I would hope that my hammer is all you will need Omen. I swear that while I'm breathing, you shall not need to swing a sword. Some of that magic, perhaps, but not a sword. That goes for all of you." He bows his head with that last sentence.
Yes, it's an old fireplace. It show no signs of recent use. Near it, however, are those same fresh boot marks Red saw earlier (in the scullery heading downstairs.) The tracks continue to the south wall of this chamber and stop abruptly at the wall.
Omen examines the longsword. It's an ordinary one, but in good condition.
Omen and Qivys also manage to get the backpack out from under the body. It contains a bedroll, a mess kit, a tinderbox, 10 torches, and 50 feet of hempen rope.
(Feel free to divvy up and add to your inventory. Qivys, the plate mail fits you if you want.)
Qivys
In dwarven:
"Stone never forgets, neither shall I."
Qiv says a prayer of thanks to the fallen soldier. He dons the armour and stows his chainmail in his backpack. Taking time to adjust the armour just right he turns to the group "So, how do I look?" he says with a smile. Kas' joke has lightened his mood a little. He also straps the second shield to his pack, for now at least.
Kasimir:
"Careful, everyone. The trap on the stairs was a warning; the next one we find may be more dangerous." Seeing the boot tracks, I'd like to check all along the south wall for traps 17. (I don't know whether you'd want Investigation or Perception, but they're both the same +2 for me.)
Kasimir finds no traps, but he does locate a sliding panel – a secret door – on the south wall. It appears as though the boot wearer must have exited through this door.
Kasimir:
Kas will step back, way back, and graciously allow Qivys the honor of being first through the door. He's considerate like that.
Omen
Omen will say a silent prayer for the fallen and that the fallen not be offended that what was left behind is to be used by the group.
To Qivys he will say: "Magic is the easy part." With that Omen will use Prestidigitation to snuff out then relight his torch.
The to the group he will say: "I will gladly give the sword to any who can use it. I am still a bit unnerved by that laughter."
Omen will scan the room then the stairway going down.
Qivys
Seeing Kas open a secret passage and then step back, he gives him a nod of understanding. This is my purpose, protect those closest to me. With that thought in mind he strides into the now revealed passageway, hammer at the ready. "Stick close gang. Who knows what this alchemist has in store for us yet" He begins to hum an old dwarven tune as he walks. He can't tell if it is to calm his nerves, or because he's actually enjoying himself.
Under the Mountain dark and tall
The King has come unto his hall!
His foe is dead,
the Worm of Dread,
And ever so his foes shall fall.
The sword is sharp, the spear is long,
The arrow swift, the Gate is strong;
The heart is bold that looks on gold;
The dwarves no more shall suffer wrong.
The dwarves of yore made mighty spells,
While hammers fells like ringing bells
In places deep, where dark things sleep,
In hollow halls beneath the fells.
(OoC: Yes, it's ripped straight from Tolkien himself, but it's way too early in the morning to be writing my own songs)
Qivys strides through the secret door, the others follow.
This torchlit chamber was once a large cellar, but it has since been converted into living quarters. Ten crude beds stand along the south wall, each with a wooden locker at its foot. A long wooden trestle table ringed by rickety stools dominates the center of the room. Metal cutlery, cups, and dirty plates sit atop the table. A cookstove is installed near the table, and evidence of recently cooked meals sits in pots atop it. A large ham hangs from a loop of twine near the stove. A sturdy set of stairs leads to a trapdoor in the ceiling above. There are two wooden doors in the east side of the room.
More immediately, there are also three goons wearing a lot of leather, crouched in position twenty feet in front of you, two with crossbows and one with a longbow, ready and aimed at Qivys' face.
Initiative:
Crossbow goons: 4
Longbow goon: 7
Qivys: 17
Red: 13
Kas: 9
Omen: 19
Their obvious preparation wasted, the three humans are fumbling their initial volley, but their intent is clear: You are under attack. But the four of you are quicker on the draw.
One of the crossbow-wielders is an older man with long grey hair; the other appears to be a teenaged boy missing most of his teeth. The longbow-wielder is a wild-eyed woman with a crazy head of hair. "Bye-bye!" she shouts as she fumbles to aim at Qivys' face.
Omen, Qivys, Red, and Kas may all take an action first.
Omen
Omen will make a half move to get himself in front of the group, pushing by if need be. He will yell "Thunder Strike" as he stomps his foot on the ground directly in front of him, casting Thunderwave.
Constitution save: 12
Damage: 11
If Saves: 1/2 damage
Fails save: full damage + pushed 10 ft. away from Omen
Added: all unsecure objects in the 15 ft. cube in front of him are pushed back 10 ft. (hoping it messes with the missile shots as well :))
Omen races ahead, leaping into the midst of this trio of assailants, and lets loose an arcane explosion.
Saves: 10, 5, and 6
The boom is nearly deafening. The younger man is thrown over the beds and slammed against the southern stone wall. He is unconscious or dead. The older man manages to remain on his feet, but appears seriously injured.
The wild-eyed woman with the longbow is thrown against the wall further east, toward the doors, and seems to be quite badly hurt.
The three easternmost beds are upended and mostly shattered. One of the footlockers is blown open, revealing a load of dirty laundry.