Location: West of Store Stokka , Rogaland
Weather: a gentle breeze is blowing from the north, from along the coast, with brisk weather. The clear skies have endured and the sun is out. Feels like 4.6 C.
Pandred pushes the first slab on the sarcophagus completely off, revealing the legs of a skeleton. With help from the sappers, she finishes the job, each slab hitting the mulch-covered floor with a thud before resting against the outside tomb walls.
Inside lays a skeleton ~ a distinctly non-human skeleton. It is humanoid shape, about five and a half feet tall, but with a large, triangular head, squarish eye sockets and a fat, heavy jaw in a strange half-moon shape. The rest of the body is strange as well. The bones of the clavicals, the ribcage, the hip bones, the femur and so on, are much too thin. This creature couldn't have weighed more than a hundred pounds, perhaps less. Moreover, the hands have fingers that are nearly twice the length of a human. The feet have toes that are of human finger length. The head is oriented towards 0908.
There are no clothes in the sarcophagus, no bits of treasure that have been buried with the skeleton. There is, however, a pottery lamp, about 3 inches across:
The wick has long since dried to dust and there's no oil in it, but it seems like it would still work. Here's an image to show how this sort of lamp works:
41 comments:
This is probably really really stupid, but would the one of the glands fit inside comfortably?
Inside the lamp? No. The gland is about as large as your fist, both in width and in height. The lamp is less than an inch thick, and though three inches wide, the space inside would only hold perhaps two, three oz. of oil. Moreover, the hole at the top or the side (dark spot at the bottom of the image) is too small for you to fit your pinky in (given Pandred's strength).
I've added a second image to the blog to show the burning method; the one you found in the tomb would be flatter than the one shown. This is the only good image I could find of the thickness of a lamp like this.
I'll cut a small strip from my cloak, sufficient to wrap our newfound lamp.
Then I'll wrap it up, and tuck it in the pack for safekeeping.
Maybe we can drum up some kind of vegetable oil and get it going, or at the very least Stavanger will have something.
About the skeleton: would any of us be able to tell this frog-man from a Slaad, if there were any difference? Or is this question unanswerable without a Druid who studies amphibians?
Starting with the fact that none of you have ever heard of a slaad, much less seen one (for reasons I can't disclose), you have no special knowledge that tells you this is a "frog-man." Just saying.
Bergthora will feel about her person and come up with a small flask. "I have some oil, if that will help you light it, Sister."
"Have you tried... rubbing it?"
"You know, as in the legends".
As soon as possible I rejoin my companions inside the barrow.
Consider it done, Lothar.
Your description of the unusual jaw and headshape, along with the name "Toad King" for the barrow's occupant made me assume, but you're right, I have no special knowledge in character or out.
At Engelhart's bequest, Pandred will give the lamp a little polish, while asking of her associates just what the plan is from here.
Oh dammit, I was thinking of Kuo-Toans anyway, the small ones. Too many damn humanoids.
I vote that we light it, but maybe by the frog statue?
Let's light it down here, see if it does anything interesting and if not, take it over to the statue and give it a try there. After that, we could either pack up and head back to Stavenger and sell these glands to the highest bidder or we could camp here for the night and see if the lamp does anything interesting at night, and look closer at the back room of the farmhouse.
I've got twine we could use as a wick.
That sounds good, Lothar.
If we can, I'd rather we sell the glands and eggs sooner rather than later - we don't know if they spoil or not.
As the lamp is clay pottery, it doesn't shine up too much ~ but it is a little cleaner after you rub it, Pandred.
Great. I'm all for lighting it down here guys, but I don't possess anything like flint and tinder, and I don't have lamp oil of any kind.
Is there anyone among us who does, or is this party-wide call for illumination our cue to head back to Engelhart's relatives and resupply?
Not at all, I believe one of our fallen comrades (Rowan?) had flint and tinder in his possession.
Fjall is making dinner on a fire above you. Moreover, the sappers, who are fully prepared for underground fighting and collapsing walls when needed, all have a tinderbox. Fjall couldn't have lit the fire up top without one.
Moreover, Bergthora already offered a flask of oil.
So, since most of us seem amenable, I fill the lamp with Bergthora's oil, insert an appropriate amount of my twine as a wick, and light it with a borrowed flint and steel while standing next to the sarcophagus.
And you hear the grinding, immense sound of moving stone ~ clay falls away from the wall and reveals a five-foot wide double door in 0911. The door is carved all over with runes, and two symmetrical images of frogs in silhouette, staring at each other from opposite sides.
The door is closed, with no handles in evidence.
I'll add that the doors are about 5'5" high, or 65 inches.
Excellent! With the lamp firmly in Lothar's possession now, I'll retrieve my weapons from the base of the sarcophagus and move over towards the door.
I'll wait for the others to come around, and then, perhaps with some assistance, push against the left door.
"Nice work!"
"Nice work, indeed"
I assist Pandred - if she can move the left door by herself, I move the right door, else I help her move the left door.
Wide-eyed, arms at the ready, a prayer on my lips.
Okay. Seeing as how only Pandred and Embla are needed, and it all seems convivial and relaxed, I'll rule that only the two of you are affected.
The doors are fire trapped. They open easily, then there is an explosion of flame that reaches out five feet from the door.
Can I have a d20 roll from Embla and Pandred, please?
d20: 5
[You know, I really should have seen that coming.]
Embla gets a 6.
Well, it's not as bad as all that. I roll 4d4, which comes out less than the average. Both Embla and Pandred are blasted for 8 damage.
Trap x.p. is 5 per damage suffered ~ so take 40 x.p., Embla; take 44 x.p., Pandred.
[I feel the need to share this. Note that the fire trap lasts until discharged; it could have been cast a thousand years ago and still be active]
[Yay! I have positive xp!]
Does the door stand open? What can we see?
From where you're laying on the ground, a large black hole, with a little bit of illumination from the lamp in Lothar's hand. Someone will have to move closer and look.
Less than average indeed!
I can only beseech our good Cleric for his aid, as I find myself missing half of my hp somehow. Something involving a bright light and scorching agony.
Also, if they were not devoured, Rowan had three Healing Salves on him.
I move closer to the opening, cautiously peering into the dark. Those fire beetle bladders may come in useful yet.
There is something unpleasant I do have to bring up.
Both Embla and Pandred are blasted by fire in the front of their bodies. This means their shirts, their robes, anything hanging around their necks and any belt that is hanging over their shoulders, plus what is on those belts. Could I have a quick list of those things from both of you, please.
Lothar, you have the lamp in one hand. Could you please tell me what you have in your other hand?
While I'd like to say a dagger or something similar, I don't currently own one. So for better or worse I am carrying only the lamp in my hand right now. It was not my intention to pass through the portal, merely to peer inside. If that matters.
I would still have my bow slung over my shoulder, however.
Cotton Shirt
Wool Cloak
Studded Leather Armor
Leather Belt
Small Quiver (I'm assuming the strap comes around.)
12 Heavy Crossbow Bolts in Quiver
Handaxe tucked in belt.
Battleaxe in one hand.
Backpack slung over one shoulder, Small Shield strapped to that on backside.
Anything happen with the glands inside the pack? If I'm on my back like Embla, I foresee some squashing at the least.
Engelhart quickly approaches the two damsels in distress.
"Pandred! Embla! By God, are you alright!?"
"More care is needed, youngling. There is clearly devious cunning arrayed against us here, reaching from times past, though from what malevolent entities we cannot yet discern.
I cast Cure Light Wounds on Pandred, I won't randomize as per my initial instinct since she was the only one to ask. It is still a difficult decision, mind you.
"There, may the Lord's grace invigorate you and restore body and soul"
[I rolled a 3, meaning 7 hit points are restored].
"I'm all but spent, Mistress Embla. Though you be of... hardier stock, I urge that you exercize caution until such a time as I can get you tended to."
You don't want to leave your staff behind, do you Lothar? I'll put that in your other hand.
The next post is up.
Pandred, I just need a d20 for the shirt, the cloak and the belt.
11, 9, 15
Pandred, you have the tattered remains of your shirt and your cloak. They'll hang about your body, and there's no much good you can do to cast them off. You can count each as having 80% of their clo value. But they're no longer good enough to wear about town.
The belt is fine.
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