Ghosts of Saltmarsh (cbaer8) - Campaign Thread

Bayleaf salutes Gerrard. "Yes, boss. No mad gods for me!" You shut, lock, and barricade him into the darkened kitchen with the other two. The gagged old man looks wild-eyed; the cards woman subdued and tranquil. "And watch out for whatever guarding them treasures!" shouts Bayleaf as you complete the barricade.

What next?

Peri:

Peri retrieves the potions and hands them to Dwal. "Think you can figure out what these do while we're buildin' a brig?" He helps Gerrard secure the prisoners, dousing the coals and helping to block up the door. When they're all set to go he gathers up his things. Eyeing Kei's new kicks he asks, "You know what those things do yet? Can they turn you invisible or make you fly, or are they just really nice boots?"

Dwal will perform a ritual Identify for as many items the party has found, as he can in the time it takes to build that barricade. (bearicade)

Kei 

Looking down at Bayleaf's, now his, boots he shakes his head at Peri's question. "They're that comfortable, I had forgotten I was even wearing them. I guess it'll come to me in time." 

As the bearicade is finished Kei paces impatiently near the door to the velvet curtained room. "Ah blow it. I'm going to check it out." He moves into the room and heads to the area mentioned earlier with the scuffs on the floor. Before taking a first look he runs his hand across the back of his deck seeking Guidance in finding the entrance to the tunnels.

Investigation 4 plus 3

The potions from the keg room in the fancy crystal decanters are all potion of healing.
Kei's new shoes (formerly Bayleaf's) are boots of striding and springing.
The scrolls from the same room are spell scrolls of silent image and phantasmal force.
The scrolls hidden in the hollow base of the medusa statue are spell scrolls of command and hold person
The scrolls in the dusty ledger on the bookshelves are spell scrolls of light and bless.
(Did I forget anything? Add them to your inventory once you establish who's keeping what.)

Kei sees clear evidence on the floor of the age-old scuff of a heavy door. Carefully lifting the bottom of the velvet curtain, a heavy stone door is clearly evident behind, leading south.

Gerrard:

Taking one of the healing potions and putting it in his pouch, Gerrard comes over to see what Kei has found.  “Well-done, Master Kei.  Do you need more time to check it for traps or locks, or shall we all gather over here now and open it?”

The ancient stone door appears to be designed to swing inward, into the chamber you're in. It has no visible locks or even a latch, at least on this side. A series of ornate buttons must be undone for the curtains to fall back neatly (or the whole thing could probably just be torn or slashed away.) By the buildup of grime in the cracks, it doesn't look like it's been opened in a long time - at least since before the fire and collapse of the abbey, but perhaps years.

Kei 

"I've no eye for traps and such, I guess we get Deal here to see if he can figure the masonry magic at work that hides the lock " he replies quietly to Gerrard. 

He begins undoing the buttons adorning the drapes. "Hey, Fiercehammer, you wanna put your heritage to the test. What kind of stonework shenanigans are at work here? There's no visible lock or handle". For once he uses to Dwal's actual clan name. Hoping that the dwarf will come lend his expertise to the search effort, Kei adds a little arcane assistance.

Undoing the buttons reveals a simple indentation with which the door can presumably be pulled open. It's a heavy stone door designed to silently swing open without any latching or locking mechanism. Just hinges and a stop.

Gerrard:

Gerrard will wait for Dwal and Kei to declare the door clear.  Then he nods and says, “Let’s go,” holding his glowing rapier in one hand and opening the door with the other.

Dwal follows along with the group.

Boko offers to peek in first, trying to see what she can see, hear, smell, and feel in this new chamber.

Perception: 27
Stealth: 16

Boko and Gerrard see an ancient, stone tunnel that widens into an open chamber. It is pitch-dark, lit only by Gerrard's blade.

Dwal can see more - the room ahead appears unfurnished and undecorated, at least the parts he can see, and about thirty feet deep.

But Dwal perceives even more: standing next to one another in the center of the room are two enormous, identical, skeletal guardians. Their heads are adorned with prominent horns, and each wields a massive, rusted axe. They are perfectly still. 

(Two can fit abreast in the hallway. Order may become important now and in the future, so let's make sure we regularly establish positions.
Right now I see: Front – Boko and Gerrard. Middle: Dwal. Rear: Peri and Kei. Does that sound right? Feel free to announce otherwise.)

Gerrard:

Pulling out his Main Gauche as well, Gerrard advances slowly and with attempted stealth, allowing Boko to set the pace as she investigates.  Though he is not the most perceptive, he nonetheless watches and listens intently for threats.

Stealth:  18

Perception:  1

OOC:  Good with Gerrard in the front.  Not that he sees the skeletons yet, but he can help form a defensive front line in the hallway if needed…

Dwal will cast Detect Evil and Good and move forward.

Peri:

Peri idly wonders why the nobleman -- with the least ability to see in the dark -- feels compelled to lead the way, but at least it keeps Peri out of the front line. Still, he should keep an eye on things... He scuttles up the wall and peers down the corridor. "Crap!" he yelps, before lowering his voice to a hiss. "Hey! There's a pair of giant skeletons up there! Big, big skeletons! Not movin' yet, but I wouldn't bet on 'em lettin us squeeze on past. Whaddya say we try to kill these things from a distance -- no gettin' hit with those big axes? Or do you wanna question 'em to see if they're good guys?"

(If Peri can get the group to wait, he'll lay out a plan to summon an unseen servant to carry some of the oil flasks down to the skeletons and dousing them, then shooting a flaming arrow into them.)

The group moves slowly and carefully down the hallway. The room becomes visible to all at the end of the passage. It's 30' square, with decorative moldings in the corners, but otherwise empty and unadorned. There is a door on the east wall. 

Three more figures become visible on the east wall, guarding the door. Two are incorporeal - ghostly figures that distort and twist. The third is a corpselike figure in a hooded shawl with a distorted, half-rotted face. None appear to be armed with weapons.

Dwal confirms with his spell that all five of these figures are indeed undead.

"ବନ୍ଦ କର! ପ୍ରବେଶ କରନ୍ତୁ ନାହିଁ |" shrieks the corpselike figure. The skeletal minotaurs turn their heads in unison to stare at you. 

Gerrard:

Sinking into a defensive stance, Gerrard says, “Indeed, pelt them from a distance and I will hold the line here in the hallway.”

Dodge

"If'n they are undead guardians" Dwal says softly. "There must be a command word ta keep 'em from attackin'."
He turns to Kei. "Do ya have anything in those cards of yers ta help figure out this little puzzle?"