Fourth Expedition

[beermotor]

Are the slabs that have no bodies on them completely clear? Or does it look like there used to be remains on top, but they've been removed / got up and walked out?

Any odd tracks in the dust, bloodsmears on the floor? Wasn't the burned flesh smell stronger in this direction?

And for the slabs without remains on them, are these like movable lids to sarcophagi? Or one giant chunk of rock that's carved into an altar of sorts that the bodies are laid on top of?

[Corsair]

Do we recognize the roses & thorns motif? Does it have any historical significance that Torvid or Colgher might be aware of?

In the meantime, Colgher Colgher says aloud, "There's coins here! Silver ones! And..and gold!" He's never seen a real gold piece before, but is fairly certain he'd never have to work another day in his life if he were to pocket what was on the slab. "Should we, you know, that is...take it?"

[Dogma]

Garth pushes his way past Olaf, "See, look there, their touching them and ain'tnothing bad happening. Now get out of my way."

He joins Torvid and Colgher in srummaging through the mummified corpses.

Olaf watches his push by, " I still don't like this. There's things down here that are unnatural."

Wilem shrugs and joins the others searching the area.

[Raven Crowking]

The slabs that have no bodies on them are not completely clear. It does indeed look like there used to be remains on top. The smell of burnt flesh was stronger in this area, and still is -- you notice that some of the robes here show signs of charring, some time ago, but not in ancient times.

There are no obvious tracks. The slabs do not have lids, nor is anything carved to resemble an altar.

What the rose-and-thorn motif may be is not known to anyone here.

[beermotor]

"Well, let's see what happens when one of those guys takes some coins," Grim says to Gunnar.

<They wait.>

[Corsair]

"I don't see as the dead have any need of it," calls Themble Undergold from where he's standing, "and those of us here do need wages to make our way in this world. In other words fellow, grab up all ye can, just make sure yer sharin' it with the rest of us."

That's all Colgher needs to hear. He sweeps the coins off the cairn he's standing before into his open palm.

Torvid Spurn shakes his head and takes a step back, his hand on his razor just in case.

[Raven Crowking]

Colgher sweeps up a handful of silver and a few gold coins. Locating them requires him to examine the folds and pockets of the robed corpse. He gains 25 sp and 5 gp.

[knight.errant]

Ellie will pick up some coins, especially if there are some without a crowd in front of them. If all of the coins have people in front of them, she will watch to see where people put the coins after they've taken them.

Podrick looks around the room, for any weapons or other useful items that maybe scattered here. He motions to Kadatheron, "There maybe other items of use here, help me look." The two of them look around the room.

Jeren trembles and looks around nervously, unsure of what to do.

[beermotor]

Grim coughs out loud. "All right now, remember we split whatever we find equally. Since it seems these honored dead don't intend to rise and challenge us, go ahead and take what you can." He motions to Daryll and Gunnar. "We'll watch the doorway."

HP looks specifically for runes or other inscriptions, and rings or other jewelry on the bodies. If he finds anything, he'll motion to Cisneros.

Willie joins the others looting the bodies.

Kent stands near Grim and the others by the doorway.

[Corsair]

Taking that as his cue, Colgher Colgher moves to the nearest slab that isn't already being looted and begins rummaging for more coins. His intent is to divide them among the entire party once time permits, though part of him does wonder if he might not be able to hide a gold coin or two without anyone noticing. Maybe later.

Torvid Spurn is uncomfortable with the idea of removing anything from the bodies of the deceased, so hangs back, keeping close to his friend in case something awful happens.

Malgaliir continues to search the shadows, with Themble close at hand.

[Raven Crowking]

Something awful happens.

As the party spreads throughout the room, looting the bodies, they arise to take back what is theirs. Not just the five mummified corpses....the skeletal remains also come up from their slabs, moving as though missing bones and flesh were still present - even one which is just now a skull and half an arm ending in clawed fingers! The mummified corpses, as they arise, moan a sonorous chant that sounds like evil prayer.

[beermotor]

Initiative: 20+3=23.

"Back! Out the doorway!" Grim hollers. Grim and Gunnar take up positions just outside the doorway of the room, to prevent the corpsers from getting out and to fight just a couple at a time if possible. Kent stands behind them, ready to throw torches. If we get to attacks this round, here they are:

Grim: fights defensively with warhammer: 18 + 3 (deed success) = 21. Damage: 6 + 3 = 9 total. AC+1 for this round?
Gunnar: swings hammer: 20! + 2 = 22. Critical roll: 2 (jabbed in eye, +d4 damage). Damage: 4 + 2 + 2 = 8 total.
Kent: throws a torch: 16 + 3 = 19. Damage: 1 + 2 = 3 total impact, 1 from fire.

Daryll skedaddles back to the four way intersection to keep watch. Cisneros shuffles along with him, holding a torch.

Inside the room... Willie and HP do whatever they can to try to run away from the things, either to flee to one of the corners (NW or SW) or to try to run out of the room past Grim and Gunnar.

This is a lot of enemies guys, you may want to try to flee with your favorite PC, heh. Otherwise be brave, taking out a couple of these things inside there will be helpful!

Also, that was some awesome rolling. Next round will probably be mass fumbles.

[Corsair]

Initiative: 12+0 = 12

Seeing the dead come to life and the party spring into action, Torvid Spurn does the wise thing and follows Grim's order to retreat. Colgher Colgher, however, bitten by the gold bug, will try to keep himself unseen and try to move behind the slabs and scoop up as many coins as he can before exiting.

Themble and Malgaliir will bravely work to rid the room of living dead as they retreat.

"EVEN THE DEAD CAN BLEED!" bellows the dwarf as a battle cry.

"That would depend on how long they've been dead," replies the Elf. "And how much blood was left--"

"SHUT IT!" bellows the dwarf, his mood spoiled.

Themble Undergold attacks with his hammer: 9+1=10. If it should hit, he does 4+1= 5 points of damage
Malgaliir attacks with his staff: 11+0=11. If this is a hit, he does 1 point of damage..

[Dogma]

Output: initiative [1d20+2] = 14+2 = 16

"I told you it was a bad idea to be touchin' them bodies," said Olaf as he readied his hammer.

"Yeah, yeah. Save your breath, beardy," replied Garth, pocketing any coins he found while pulling out his club. 'If we survide this then so can say your 'I told you soes'."

"Stop your jibs a flappin' and get to the rear like the man says," interjected Willem as he scurried by, dagger in hand, following Jonas back through the door.

Olaf, Garth, Willem and Jonas will try to head back out they door they came in, smacking any undead that get close. If they get through the door safely, they form up ranks and try to hit anything ndead as it comes through the door.
Olaf to hit 15, damage 3
Garth to hit 4, damage 3
Willem to hit 19, damage 5
Jonas to hit 16, damage 1

[knight.errant]

Initiative (8+2)=10

Ellie and Jeren will move to follow Grim's orders, out the door they came in. Should any undead move to attack them or block their movement, they will attack.
Ellie: 18(!), 1 damage.
Jeren: 5

Kadatheron and Podrick will smash any undead that come near them as they try to move towards the door they came in from.
Kadatheron: 18, 3 damage.
Podrick: 7, should that hit, 6 damage.

[Raven Crowking]

"Back! Out the doorway!" Grim hollers. Grim and Gunnar take up positions just outside the doorway of the room. Kent throws a torch at a corpse, which catches fire, but it does not stop the un-dead from rising.

Willie and HP put their backs against the southwest corner.

Daryll skedaddles back to the four way intersection to keep watch. Cisneros shuffles along with him, holding a torch.

The animated bones whirl up in a cacophony of hideous shrieks that blend strangely with the sonorous prayers of the mummified corpses.

The skull-and-hand-bones strikes Colgher for 1 point of damage.

One clicking, shrieking skeleton, nearly complete, strikes at Ellie with bony fingers, but misses.

Olaf is struck by another of the bony things for 4 points of damage, going down in a welter of blood.

Garth is struck with a natural 20, for 4 points of damage. As the numbness of death spreads from the hideous wound, he takes another 1 point of damage.

Jonas manages to parry the sharp fingers of his opponent.

Jeren is struck for 7 points, and Malgaliir for 4.

Willem hits his foe, shattering it in a welter of dry bones.

Jonas hits his opponent, with somewhat less success.

Themble misses.

Ellie and Kadatheron both hit, but only Kadatheron destroys his foe.

NOTE: Withdrawing from combat allows a free attack. Do you still wish to attempt to withdraw to the doorway? If so, that will come before the mummified corpses, which, rising, move toward the doorway themselves.

Only three of the corpses can get to the doorway this round, but they cannot also attack, as they move fairly slowly.

Grim, fighting defensively with warhammer, stikes the one Kent lit afire as it comes towards him, moaning prayers and arms outstretched. The warhammer creases the un-dead skull, and the creature is silenced. Grim has a +1 AC until his next action.

Gunnar: swings hammer, catching one right in the eye! It sways backwards from the force of the blow, but then rights itself, its vile prayers unabated.

[beermotor]

Oof. Uh, high attrition rate in there.

Initiative: 3 + 3 = 6.

Willie takes stock of the situation, which looks pretty hopeless, given that there's so many animated skeletal thing moving around now. "Look man, we're done for if we don't do something!" He elbows HP and then charges into the fray, trying to assist Ellie by striking at the one on her with his club. To hit: 3 + 1 = 4. (Assume that's a miss. If not, club is d4+1.)

HP is paralyzed with fear in the corner, trying not to move a muscle. If any of the skeletons get close to him he will shriek out a prayer to whatever Gods he can think of, including any and all demons or devils who might be listening, to strike a bargain for his life.

Grim swings at the other corpse that Gunnar struck, fighting defensively again. To Hit: 9 + 3 (deed success) = 12. (Boy I hope that hits.) Damage: 2.

Gunnar swings at the corpse that he hit a moment again. To Hit: 15 + 2 = 17. Damage: 3 + 2 = 5.

Kent throws another torch at one of the corpses (probably one of the ones further inside the room). To Hit: 3 + 3 = 6. (Assume that's a miss, but if not, damage is club d4+2 and fire d6.)

Daryll looks frantically back down the corridors at the four-way intersection. "Man I hope they finish this quickly!"
Cisneros coughs. "Who has the jewel again? The farmer?"

[Corsair]

Initiative: 10+0=0

Colgher, taking a hit, realizes that discretion is the better part of valor, and makes for the doorway with whatever loot he's managed to accumulate.

Torvid also tries to make it through the door.

Themble and Mal continue their fighting retreat alongside the others.

Themble: 3+1=4, dammit damage = 3+1=4
Malgaliir: 10+0=10, damage = 1+1=2

[knight.errant]

Initiative= 5 (3+2)

Ellie will continue to head for the doorway, praying to whatever power will answer that the undead things do not notice her anymore. She is nothing if not practical, so should she get another attack:
Ellie: 18 (again?!)

Podrick will also move towards the door. Should he get another attack or live through moving:
Podrick: 20!

Kadatheron moves to the door as well, concentrating on remaining calm--and hoping that with luck and maybe the help of some greater power, he'll make it out of here alive. Should he get to attack:
Kadatheron: 6

[Raven Crowking]

Colgher dodges a skeletal attack, and heads for the door....now blocked by four mummified corpses and the redoubtable Grim, Gunnar, and Kent. Torvid, Themble, and Mal make it as well, but realize that there is no way beyond the door at the moment. (Malgaliir's 10 is a miss; the animated bones are AC 13).

Grim hits (the corpses are AC 12). The corpse continues to chant, until Gunnar also strikes it, when it is silenced forever. Kent's torch misses, and luckily does not strike any of his friends now struggling to get to the door. The torch goes out.

Nothing is happening in the corridor, where Daryll and Cisneros keep watch.

Yet.

Ellie and Podrick each take out a skeletal form...including the "skull-and-arm-bones-hand-claw", which is destroyed by Ellie.

There are still three of the dancing, shrieking skeletal things able to attack, and three of the chanting mummified corpses. The three skeletons attack Colgher, Torvid, and Poderick....19, 4, and 8. Colgher is hit for 3 points of damage. The corpses press their attack against Grim, Gunnar, and Kent. Grim is hit with an 18, and the chanting mummy grasps his throat (doing 4 points of damage in the process). Even with cover from Grim and Gunnar, one of the corpses manages to push through to Kent, dealing 2 points, but this opens it up to a free attack from Gunnar, which hits and drops the creature with 5 points of damage.