[Game Thread] Chapter 1: A Rude Awakening

[ElderOblex]

Tjurn "HRNG," Tjurn grunted as Steffa named the dog. Sweat began to drip from his forehead as his muscles strained with the effort of pushing. The sarcophagus lid refused to budge. After a few more attempts, the young man exhaled, suddenly tired. "A good name, perhaps for me as well. This thing refuses to be moved." He turned to the red-haired woman. "So. Climb a wall? Perhaps we can trace our steps back, see if we missed an exit."

OOC Rolled a 3 for the strength check. Is there a way to identify those areas? Like a map and check where we might have missed a path?

Stat Block   Tjurn Omens Powers/Day Max Items Hit Points 0/1 3+d4 8 BROKEN: Broken right foot4/4 Agility Presence Strength Toughness 0 +3 0 0 Weapon Armor Sword d6 damage Unarmored Other Equipment Waterskin Sack (stores 10 items) Bomb (sealed bottle, d10 damage) Tent Food Silver 2 30 Scrolls ... ...

[Effete]

Steffa Steffa was still leading Kreine by the arm when Tjurn hobbled over to the sarcophagus and started pulling on the lid. "Hold up! Let's do it together," Steffa said, when the young man gave up. Gently urging Kreine into a corner, the tall woman approached the coffin. "Umm, were you pulling from the right side?" she mused. "On three. One... two... THREE!" (If we failed) "*sigh* Well, it was worth a try." (Regardless of success) "That way—" Steffa points to the low tunnel "—leads back to the main catacombs, the fountain, the river and the... the... hanging tree." An audible noise escaped the woman's throat as she tried to swallow past a lump. "I don't think I want to go that way. Not to the fountain, and not to the tree." She gestures toward the other corridor, a questioning look on her face. "What was through there again?"

ooc Natch 20 on Strength check! But I'm fine if you decide to go with the first roll only.   steffa omens powers/day max items hit points 0 2+d4 7 2/4 agility presence strength toughness +0 +2 -1 +0 weapon armor staff d4 damage leather, tier 1 (-d2 damage) other equipment waterskin sack (stores 10 items) dead half-billed raven 4 torches small vicious dog food silver 4 50 scrolls ... ...

[Silent Rain]

Back together again Tjurn and Steffa pulled at the lip of the stone sarcophagus. At first, it refused to budge, but after a few moments, it began to open with a grinding sound. The weight of the large slab of stone began to fall in Tjurn's direction, and at first it seemed he would be crushed, but Steffa stepped in and put her shoulder under it, lifting it up and away. The stone lid tipped in the opposite direction and broke into pieces as it slammed against the floor with a loud crash. Inside the now open sarcophagus was a man’s odorless corpse in near perfect condition, wearing fine silk clothes. The skin is waxy and malleable like dough. Beyond that, there did not appear to be anything contained within.

Reference Sheet | Player Guide

OOC In Mork Borg, if multiple characters are rolling for the same task, only one person rolls and the DC is lowered based on how many are helping. In this case, it's fine that Steffa rolled. Players are up.

[Effete]

Steffa "Uhh... I think this was a mistake!" Steffa's head swivels back and forth between the waxy corpse and Tjurn as she shuffles away from the sarcophagus. When it appeared the corpse wasn't going to lunge out at them for disturbing its rest (at this point, Steffa wasn't going to rule ANYTHING out), the tall woman spoke to her companion in a low voice. "That way—" she points to the low tunnel "—leads back to the main catacombs, the fountain, the river and the... the... hanging tree." An audible noise escaped the woman's throat as she tried to swallow past a lump. "I don't think I want to go that way. Not to the fountain, and not to the tree." She gestures toward the other corridor, a questioning look on her face. "What was through there again?"

ooc   steffa omens powers/day max items hit points 0 2+d4 7 2/4 agility presence strength toughness +0 +2 -1 +0 weapon armor staff d4 damage leather, tier 1 (-d2 damage) other equipment waterskin sack (stores 10 items) dead half-billed raven 4 torches small vicious dog food silver 4 50 scrolls ... ...

[ElderOblex]

Tjurn "....... Indeed... " was all Tjurn could say as he recovered his breath and stared at the outcome of this idiotic idea. He examined the waxy man with suspicious eyes. Hope was like a strangled corpse in this graveyard; ever dangling, like rotting bait. Tjurn backed away cautiously from the eerie dead body, one hand on his sword. The other sought Kreine's hand. His eyes remained on the body in the coffin, expecting it to rise and announce its murderous intent. When Steffa spoke, Tjurn listened but kept his gaze on the sarcophagus. When it seemed safe to look away, he replied, "No idea, but it's as good a path as any. There is nothing for us here. "

OOC Just checking if there's something worth taking on the corpse: Dice presence: d20+3 (5)+3 Total = 8

Stat Block   Tjurn Omens Powers/Day Max Items Hit Points 0/1 3+d4 8 BROKEN: Broken right foot4/4 Agility Presence Strength Toughness 0 +3 0 0 Weapon Armor Sword d6 damage Unarmored Other Equipment Waterskin Sack (stores 10 items) Bomb (sealed bottle, d10 damage) Tent Food Silver 2 30 Scrolls ... ...

[Effete]

Steffa Confusion tugged at the edges of Steffa's mind when Tjurn said he wasn't sure what lay down the other tunnel. Did he and Kreine not come that way? Then again, in this labyrinth, it was easy to get turned around. Steffa skirted the walls of the room, conscious of the body that was now exposed from their foolish action, and made her way to the southern archway. Tjurn took a moment to examine the corpse before seizing Kreine by the hand and following behind. A dull, clattering sound was heard before the trio exited the tunnel, and the tall woman still wasn't sure exactly what it was, even once she spotted the three skeletons sitting at the stone table. Realization struck her like a slap across the face when she saw that the skeletons were, in fact, making the noise. Bonehead issued a short growl, but for the moment remained obediently by the woman's side. Steffa studied the odd scene for a while before asking, "Are they... talking? Do you think they'd understand us?" The question seemed absurd. No words escaped the skeleton's mouths because, obviously, they had no lips or tongues or lungs to produce sounds. But... they also had no muscles to move their jaws! Without ears, would they still be able to hear? Could they see without eyes? Steffa felt dizzy trying to rationalize these thoughts with the things she still "knew" about reality. But this world defied reason. It scoffed in the face of sanity, tempting the visitor to spiral down into the depths of madness. Damn this wretched existance, damn that demon-woman, and damn her stupid father! Damn these damn skeletons! With another glance at Tjurn, the woman's mouth twisted in an odd way: part uncertainty, part resignation, and part madness; then she slowly walked toward the table. " H... hello? Can you hear me?"

ooc   steffa omens powers/day max items hit points 0 2+d4 7 2/4 agility presence strength toughness +0 +2 -1 +0 weapon armor staff d4 damage leather, tier 1 (-d2 damage) other equipment waterskin sack (stores 10 items) dead half-billed raven 4 torches small vicious dog food silver 4 50 scrolls ... ...

[Silent Rain]

The Fogbound Skeletons When it had been determined that the corpse inside the sarcophagus was nothing more than that, Tjurn approached and performed a cursory search of the body. After a few moments, he stepped back, finding nothing of value. Having no reason to linger, and with Steffa's strong objection to returning back to the catacombs and the direction she had come from, the group decided to venture back the way which Tjurn had arrived. It did not take long for them to arrive back at the room with the three skeletons sitting around the table containing the lock box. As before, the Fogbound Skeletons speak with elongated tongues of mist, soundless save for the unmistakable clatter of tooth against tooth. One still waves an elaborate key-like dagger in a bony hand. Steffa tries to communicate with them, but they appear to be oblivious to her attempts.

Reference Sheet | Player Guide

OOC In Mork Borg, if multiple characters are rolling for the same task, only one person rolls and the DC is lowered based on how many are helping. In this case, it's fine that Steffa rolled. Players are up.