* To recap, the four of you are inside a maloseum with vaults lining the walls, each one with a name neatly engraved upon it. There are a few spatters of blood on the floor and walls, and the print of what appears to be a skeletal foot near the door, that has a key in it. A ring dangles from the handle of that key, and there are several more on the ring.

Akia grimaces, looking at the walls, "This does not bode well for those whom we search for."

SteelBrow eyes the skeleton, says a b rief silent prayer for the deceased, and retrieves the keys.

Norry says, "Well this is a mausoleum, don't you know. It might be that some poor soul from the vault were tossed about or some such, leaving this mark."

Akia examines a few bloodstains.

The DM points out that there is no skeleton. Just the print of a foot, devoid of skin.

Akia nods to Norry, "Perhaps." She doesn't sound convinced.

* Akia rolls 1f20+4: 10,4 = 14.

Sebrinia keeps an eye out at the door they've come through, not wanting anything to sneak up on them.

SteelBrow tries the key in the door.

Akia grimaces, "Odd... these splatters seem to indicate a battle was fought here as well. But... the guards were found outside."

Akia examines the floor.

* Only sunlight from outside comes in from the main entrance. The mausoleum is unlit except for that light. The key in the door moves easily, and you hear a mechanism move within.

* Akia rolls 1f20+4: 9,4 = 13.

Norry grips his crossbow, prepared to loose.

SteelBrow says, "key appears to work.", and relocks the door until the group decides to proceed that dirction.

Sebrinia glances towards Steelbrow. "Well are we ready to go further on into this thing?"

Akia says, "Apparently the guards fought in here first, then were dragged out. I wager the threat indicated by these marks we've already taken care of."

* The mechanism smoothly moves again when Steelbrow turns the key the other direction.

SteelBrow glances at the others, "well, anything more here?"

Norry is prepared, as mentioned a moment ago.

Akia asks, "Before we move forward... Steelbrow, can I look at that wound?"

SteelBrow steps his wounded leg forward, balancing on his axe.

* Akia rolls 1d2: 1.

Akia puts her hand to the wound, it heals a bit.

SteelBrow says, "Be 3 nights ta heal natural, I reckon."

Akia grimaces and puts her hand to it again.

* Akia rolls 1d2: 1.

Akia says, "Gah... there aren't enough people here to make this effective."

SteelBrow says, "Thank ye, but save it for later."

Akia nods, "Be careful. Let's move forward."

SteelBrow asks, "anyone care to do the honors with the door?"

Akia says, "Were we told how many we should be looking for? I count two guards so far..."

SteelBrow says, "I recall a party of 3 the guards were looking for."

Akia asks, "Any count on how many guards we should be looking for?"

SteelBrow says, "I think that was it."

Akia nods, "I'll open the door. I am as yet uninjured."

Akia puts her hand out for the key and steps forward.

SteelBrow hands Akia the keys.

SteelBrow stands to the side, axe at the ready.

Akia steps around Steelbrow and unlocks the door, preparing to open it.

Akia pulls the door inward, using it as cover as she peers into the next room.

Akia grimaces.

Akia pulls on the door and it does not budge.

Akia she pauses a moment, then turns the key *back* again, and tries once more, using the door as cover.

* The door opens smoothly this time, revealing a narrow staircase that descends to a wide landing below. You can tell the landing leads to a wider room that is lit by wavering firelight.

Akia peers down the long stair.

Sebrinia glances towards Akia. "Well?"

The DM requests you illustrate your marching order when actually going down the stairs.

Akia mutters something to herself, then walks down the stairs carefully.

Norry follows Akia down.

SteelBrow follows Akia down.

Norry makes way for Steelbrow, and takes the rear.

The DM rolls some dice.

The DM says, "All right. You may continue farther."

Akia puts up a hand to the others, then slinks down the stairs as silent as a mouse.

* Akia rolls 1f20+9: 17,9 = 26.

* Akia rolls 1f20+9: 11,9 = 20.

SteelBrow clumbsly attempts to move quietly.

The DM says, "Steelbrow, if you're moving quietly, make your roll."

SteelBrow maintains a bit of space should he need to swing his axe.

Akia slinks down to the bottom of the stair, gesturing for the others to hold back before getting a peek into the room.

Sebrinia waits at the top of the stairs.

* SteelBrow rolls 1f20+1: 4,1 = 5.

The DM is about to act, but wants to verify where Norry is.

Norry is where he is. At the top of the stairs.

Norry oocs, "Unless Sebrinia is in front of me at the top."

Sebrinia oocly will be behind Norry.

* Lit torches illuminate this chamber. From the landing you now stand upon, a shallow staircase leads down into a room obviously designed to allow corpses to be prepared for burial. At the bottom of that staircase is the corpse of a human woman, crumpled and broken. The statue of some winged celestial being overlooks the scene from its pedestal east of the stairs. Several tables stand against the east and west walls, and all but two of the seven have corpses on them. Farther into the chamber is a long pile of crushed stone where somebody or something toppled and crushed two of the tables. Aside from the one table that is beyond that debris, the farthest features you can see are vault doors along the north wall, a couple of which hang open, exposing the rudely touseled bones within....

Akia cringes a little at the dead bodies. here.

The DM is acting.

The DM says, "Continue."

Akia steps down to the bottom of the wide stair and crouches, looking at the body of the woman.

* Akia rolls 1f20+4: 13,4 = 17.

SteelBrow resumes his decent.

Norry follows SteelBrow down.

Sebrinia follows Norry.

Akia gestures for the others to come down, "Looks like someone from the town."

Akia says, "Human. Either beaten, or she fell down the stair."

SteelBrow takes a position on the north side of the stairs.

Norry takes a look at the nearest body on a table.

The DM is acting.

* Without warning, the corpse moves and swipes at Norry from where it lays on the table, but its swing goes wild. It stands up, as does another one on the opposite side.

The DM says, "Initiative."

* SteelBrow rolls 1f20+1: 3,1 = 4.

* Norry rolls 1f20+4: 7,4 = 11.

* Akia rolls 1f20+4: 12,4 = 16.

* Sebrinia rolls 1f20+5: 18,5 = 23.

The DM says, "Sebrinia, you're up."

Sebrinia comes down the last of the steps, bow and arrow armed. She sends a quick arrow at the corpse that is closest to Norry.

* Sebrinia rolls 1d20+6: 11,6 = 17.

* Sebrinia rolls 1d6: 1.

* The arrow flies true, but only gives the corpse attacking Norry a glancing blow. That one looks just like a middle-aged man with graying black hair and a long moustache, but the way it moves is assuredly not natural.

The DM says, "Akia, go."

Akia charges the foe near Norry, pouncing it with both claws.

* Akia rolls 1f20+3: 3,3 = 6.

* Akia rolls 1f20+3: 18,3 = 21.

* Akia rolls 1d6+2: 4,2 = 6.

* Incredibly, the corpse - a zombie, apparently - manages to dodge the first swipe, but the second rakes through its flesh. It doesn't even stagger at the blow.

Akia grimaces.

The DM indicates that it's Norry's turn, once the turning stuff is worked out.

* Norry rolls 1f20: 11.

* Norry rolls 2d6+2: 4,3,2 = 9.

* The zombies reel a bit at Norry's attempt, but turn to face him again after only a moment.

* The one facing Norry takes another swipe at him.

Norry reels back from the swipe, clutching his injured chest.

* The second zombie moves off the table - this one is an old bald man with a long white beard - and swipes at Akia.

Akia whirls to see the second zombie, and manages to dodge it's strike just in time

* A clattering comes from animated skeletons that round the corner from the passage to the east. All are unarmored, and each wields a bow and has a quiver at its hip. The skeletal archers have arrows nocked, and one of those arrows is swathed in flame.

The DM says, "Steelbrow, go."

SteelBrow steps into the battle and brings his axe down at the first zombie.

* SteelBrow rolls 1f20+5: 8,5 = 13.

* SteelBrow rolls 1d12+4: 8,4 = 12.

SteelBrow strikes hard into the zombie.

* The zombie keels backwards under the solid blow, collapsing on top of the table. It doesn't get back up.

SteelBrow wheels around, turning the momentum to the second zombie

* SteelBrow rolls 1f20+5: 17,5 = 22.

* SteelBrow rolls 1d12+4: 5,4 = 9.

* Steelbrow gives the second zombie a giant gash into its abdoment, and it staggers a little, but does not fall.

The DM says, "Initiative."

* Norry rolls 1f20+4: 15,4 = 19.

* Akia rolls 1f20+4: -10,4 = -6.

* SteelBrow rolls 1f20+1: 8,1 = 9.

* Sebrinia rolls 1f20+5: 3,5 = 8.

* DM rolls 1f20-1: 16,-1 = 15.

* DM rolls 1f20+5: 6,5 = 11.

The DM says, "You're up, Norry."

* Norry rolls 1f20: 30.

* Norry rolls 2d6+2: 1,3,2 = 6.

Norry holds his hand aloft and cries, "Get out of the sight of the living!"

* The zombie and all three skeletons make an unearthly scream, and immediately begin to retreat from Norry.

The DM believes that generates AoO for Steelbrow and Akia?

* Akia rolls 1f20+3: 10,3 = 13.

* Akia rolls 1d6+2: 5,2 = 7.

Akia, seeing the zombie turn away, takes advantage of the opportunity and swipes a clawed hand at the zombie, crippling its movement.

SteelBrow stands his ground and growles at the retreating undead, "run ye cowards."

* SteelBrow rolls 1f20+4: 12,4 = 16.

* SteelBrow rolls 1d12+4: 10,4 = 14.

SteelBrow strikes hard at the retreating zombie.

The DM realizes Akia didn't do what he expected.

Akia oocly, "Sorry."

* The second zombie, turning to flee from Norry, is almost disemboweled by the swipe, and falls to the ground, unmoving.

The DM allows Steelbrow to specify a different action.

Norry oocs, "That was an attack of opportunity."

Norry oocs, "He either attacked, or did nothing."

SteelBrow drops the attack.

The DM ahs. "Well, then. Steelbrow, go."

SteelBrow asks, "how we doing, in need of a cleric yet?"

Akia says, "Norry is wounded. I can tend to him a little."

SteelBrow says, "go aheaqd."

SteelBrow moves out front, keeping some distance in case the other corpses decide to wake up.

The DM says, "Sebrinia, go. You saw the skeletons disappear around the corner."

Sebrinia oocly doesn't have an action to do.

The DM says, "You don't want to run after them? All right. If anyone wants to give chase, I'll call initiative again. For the moment, I'm ending it."

Akia puts a hand over Norry's chest and a mist forms, cooling the wound and cleansing it, but not totally healing it.

Akia ooc notes, "1 point of healing. 1d1 and all."

Akia prepares to chase after the skeletons

Norry also intends to give chase.

The DM asks, "Steelbrow? Sebrinia? Your intentions?"

* Akia rolls 1f20+4: 15,4 = 19.

SteelBrow asks, "think the rest of these corpses will cause us any trouble?"

Akia says, "I expect they would have tried already."

Sebrinia glances at Norry. "Are you you going to be up for going further into this?" she asks, before deciding if she is gonna give chase or not.

Norry exclaims, "I'm not stopping now. Flittertwig is down here!"

SteelBrow nods, "take out the rest while they're running?"

Sebrinia says, "Well then lets get going."

Akia says, "As long as Norry tries to stay out of melee."

SteelBrow moves towards the opening the skeletons retreated through.

* Norry rolls 1f20+4: 19,4 = 23.

The DM says, "Initiative, everyone except Akia."

* SteelBrow rolls 1f20+1: 18,1 = 19.

* Sebrinia rolls 1f20+5: 11,5 = 16.

* DM rolls 1f20+5: 9,5 = 14.

The DM says, "Norry, go."

Norry rushes after the skeletons, his crossbow in hand.

Akia likewise rushes along, running on all fours like a feral cat.

SteelBrow continues his persuite.

The DM notes that crossing each square of rubble counts as two squares of movement.

Sebrinia follows after everyone.

The DM sees characters moving, but not taking their turns, and assumes everyone is just taking full move actions.

SteelBrow says, "yup"

* The skeletal archers continue to try to retreat from Norry, and cower against the far wall when they can go no farther.

The DM says, "Alright, I think that's everyone. Initiative."

* Norry rolls 1f20+4: 10,4 = 14.

* Sebrinia rolls 1f20+5: 30,5 = 35.

* DM rolls 1f20+5: 15,5 = 20.

* SteelBrow rolls 1f20+1: 18,1 = 19.

The DM rolls for Akia.

* DM rolls 1d20+4: 6,4 = 10.

The DM says, "Sebrinia, go."

* Akia rolls 1f20+4: 13,4 = 17.

Akia says, "oh"

Akia says, "Sorry"

- Trailing after her party, Sebrinia picks up the pace and tries to catch up, but isn't able to get a shot off.

* The skeletons continue cowering.

The DM says, "Steelbrow, go."

SteelBrow charges and swings his axe from right to left.

* SteelBrow rolls 1f20+5+2: 5,5,2 = 12.

* SteelBrow rolls 1f12+4: 3,4 = 7.

* The skeleton shatters into disassociated pieces as the axe cleaves through it.

* SteelBrow rolls 1f20+5+2: 15,5,2 = 22.

* SteelBrow rolls 1f12+4: 2,4 = 6.

* The swipe continues, barely losing momentum, and shatters the second as well, its pieces mingling with the first.

The DM says, "Norry, go."

Norry moves toward the wall to get a clean shot, and looses a crossbow bolt at the remaining skeleton.

* Norry rolls 1f20+5: 3,5 = 8.

* The shot is just a little high, and the bolt breaks against the stone door behind the last skeleton.

The DM says, "Akia, go."

Akia charges forward and takes two swipes at the skeleton with her claws.

* Akia rolls 1f20+1+2: 11,1,2 = 14.

* Akia rolls 1f20+1+2: 16,1,2 = 19.

* Akia rolls 1d6+2: 2,2 = 4.

* Akia rolls 1d6+2: 3,2 = 5.

* When Akia is finished, the third skeleton is no more, torn into its component bits. There's a slight puff of bone dust.

Akia peers into the darkness beyond the dust and bones before her, absently dusting her claws off on her gi.

SteelBrow glances around for another door.

* The skeletons were cowering against another stone door like the one you passed through earlier. This one is also closed.

Sebrinia squints at the vault door behind Norry. She moves a bit closer to examine it in depth. "Guys there is something on this door."

Norry steps aside, and frowns at the vault.

Akia turns to Sebrinia, "Curious. What do you see?"

SteelBrow wanders in that general direction.

* As you turn to investigate, you notice that the vault, and the one next to it, have been nailed almost all the way shut with what appear to be pitons, with a gap of about half an inch between the door and the vault wall.

Akia investigates the fallen skeletons, snuffing the flaming arrow.

* At the sound of Sebrinia's voice, there is a weak pounding from the westernmost vault.

* Akia rolls 1f20+1: 14,1 = 15.

Norry grabs the vault door, and begins yanking on it in a vain attempt to open it.

SteelBrow charges up, and listens.

The DM says, "Norry, roll a strength check."

SteelBrow gets out a pry bar, "what's in there?"

* Norry rolls 1f20: 13.

Sebrinia reaches up and helps Norry to pull it open.

SteelBrow sticks in the pry bar and pulls.

* SteelBrow rolls 1f20+3+2: 8,3,2 = 13.

Akia says, "Huh. Wonder where these skeletons get their weaponry. Seems odd."

* The two of you pry at the vault door for a little while, and you start to loosen the nails, but it's tough going. Maybe you could use some additional help.

The DM says, "Ah. Sebrinia, you're assisting. Roll a strength check."

* Sebrinia rolls 1f20+2: 7,2 = 9.

The DM winces. "Not... what I was hoping for. Akia, you want to give them a hand? Or you can take 20."

Akia eyes the others struggling, and goes over to help.

SteelBrow resets his grip and tries again.

* SteelBrow rolls 1f20+3+2: 7,3,2 = 12.

* Akia rolls 1f20+2: -10,2 = -8.

The DM nods, "Everyone may reroll."

* Sebrinia rolls 1f20+2: 19,2 = 21.

* Akia rolls 1f20+2: 11,2 = 13.

* Norry rolls 1f20: 8.

* It takes about a minute more of mighty tugging and pulling, but Sebrinia's last effort pulls the nails out with a reluctant screech, and the door opens. There's someone inside.

Norry asks, "Flit? Is that you?"

* The occupant stares frightfully out at you, and her face is that of a young female human. She recognizes the name, though, and she uncertainly begins to climb out, clearly in shock.

SteelBrow looks for a crack to apply his prybar to the next door.

Akia steps back to make some room, looking towards the piles of bones into that doorway beyond.

* The second vault is wedged in the same way.

SteelBrow slides his prybar behind the door and pulls.

Norry asks, "You know Flittertwig? Is she here?"

* SteelBrow rolls 1f20+3+2: 2,3,2 = 7.

* The young girl, freeing herself from the vault where she'd been trapped inside, nods to Norry, and gestures to the vault that Steelbrow is trying to open. "...there," she says.

Norry puts his hands on the prybar and adds his strength, such as it is.

* Norry rolls 1f20: 8.

Akia eyes the group struggling with the prybar, but continues standing watch. She looks back and forth between the way we came in and the other corridor.

* Between the somewhat more hastily driven nails, and having a better idea of how to open it, this door is also soon pried open. Within, but unconscious, is Norry's cousin.

The DM pulls the brakes.