You can fight your battles alone

[at]

Elika looks through her bag for potions and scrolls stating, "the wand is more valuable as a weapon should we encounter more of the phantasms"

She hands Ka'lion two light healing potions and looks towards the fallen warden, "that was no ordinary zombie, it was imbued with a measure of intelligence and set as some kind of guard."

[sageaqua]

"The eyes are familier. I've seen that kind of zombie before." said Ka'lion before drinking the potions.
1h9oN_Kxp_1-8+1
p_1-8+11-8�1-8

[at]

"As have I, similar at least, from below the rust mountains. They are trackers, but rare - nobody knows what causes them to rise nor what goals if any they possess beyond murder"

Elika inspects the dead zombie more closely, "but this one is newly risen, not from the north", she looks back towards Ka'lion, "we should get to this library of yours quickly, if others like this one catch our trail we will be unable to return to the camp until they are slain or shaken off. I am uncertain of my magics ability to conceal us from them for long."

[sageaqua]

"Let's take a look around but don't count on avoiding them. I have no idea where the vault or libraries are.. I just don't want to meet them all at the same time." said Ka'lion

[at]

Ka'lion recalls Aelos's description of the vault - locked behind a heavy iron door in the northern wing of the building. It does not take long to find as the group moves cautiously but quickly into the temple.

The door to the great vault remains closed, and perhaps warded, but at least no-one appears to have gotten here ahead of you. From Aelos's words Ka'lion knows that magical artefacts taken by the priesthood were stored here but any of particular value were transported beyond the fell to the larger holdings of the faith where they could be better protected.

Aelos did not specify, and Ka'lion did not ask, if this vault also contained gold and other valuables or if it was only used to contain dangerous items, though this was not implied.

[sageaqua]

Describe the doorway and the room and size and kind of vault.

[at]

The door appears to be iron, held in a frame of iron with hinges hidden and two iron wheels each with a keyhole at their centre on it's face. The walls around it have been plastered over but by inspecting the connection between the door and wall Ka'lion believes them to be cemented stone, possibly with iron reinforcement - it seems highly unlikely that the entire vault is made of iron, though a lead lining is not out of the question given it's nature.

The room outside is bare save for light fixtures and two bell pulls for guards but Ka'lion does notice that much of the room is depressed slightly and tiled, showing signs of wear from water or some other liquid. While the floor is dry now Ka'lion can see several small open plugholes around the room suggesting that the floor is sometimes underwater.

The room and vault are just below ground level though not connected to the catacombs, a steady slope leads down to them with a pair of thick oaken doors at each end. The vault itself sits several feet beneath what Ka'lion believes to be the priests private rooms.

[sageaqua]

Ka'lion looks at the preists privite rooms

[at]

Several dozen priests lived here, and Elika notes, "I don't think we have time for this, we aren't here to loot the priests belongings". The first room Ka'lion reaches suggests others have already had that idea however as the room has been rifled through quickly but efficiently - he remembers that Rake's gang were here, and others may have been before and after. Anything of value is likely gone unless well hidden, large, or dangerous.

[sageaqua]

"I'm not looking for the preist belongs - although if anyone is likely to have magic items to defend themselves from undead - preist are your best bet. I'm here looking for papers, scrolls and maps." said Ka'lion

[at]

"It looks like someone got here before you."

Elika turns as both she and Ka'lion hear a new sound from within the temple, the slight scrape of metal - the sound of an armoured creature.

[sageaqua]

"The people that looted this place before we got here didn't take any papers. They helped us down and out of the pit and only stole small light stuff that was valubale. I saw no sign of them collecting paper or parchment goods. So keep looking after we set up an ambush for the noise coming this way." said Ka'lion

[at]

What kind of ambush does Ka'lion wish to set?

[sageaqua]

Hide behind door with the door being thown open in mind so they are not hit and Scar behind me so anyone looking inside sees an empty room.

[at]

There is little space behind the doors forcing Ka'lion and Elika into different rooms, but this is an inconvenience compared to the real problem - Scar is nervous.

(Handle animal check to keep him quiet)

[sageaqua]

Scar
handle animal
M4v6FzOrp_1-20+4=121-20

[at]

Ka'lion catches a glimpse of the hunter as it passes, humanoid, wearing a fine looking chain and brigandine armour complete with helm covering their features - though they appear male. In their hands they carry a weighted length of spiked chain that crackles with a black energy, and across their shoulders they carry a white-ish bow of seemingly elven construction.

(handle animal -1 for Ka'lion's charisma, but fortunately the DC is only 10)

[sageaqua]

Ka'lion catches a glimpse of the hunter as it passes, humanoid, wearing a fine looking chain and brigandine armour complete with helm covering their features - though they appear male. In their hands they carry a weighted length of spiked chain that crackles with a black energy, and across their shoulders they carry a white-ish bow of seemingly elven construction.

He's going to be a nasty problem. Another chaotic kill the user weapon and a nearly unhittable defence with ranged weapons with reach. Ka'lion will let him pass. The only way to beat him is with a net. Forchently Ka'lion has one. But he'll need to talk with his partner first.

[at]

The energy that the weapon emits differs from that of the scythe that Ka'lion had previously encountered, though whether for better or for worse he does not know.

As for the armour it would not look to provide the protection of a true soldiers plate but the resilience of individuals can be difficult to gauge in a land of magic and the undead, certainly though it would look to provide some significant resistance to Ka'lions meagre skills as a warrior.

The warrior emits a palpable aura of fear as he passes and for once perhaps Ka'lions strategy of avoiding conflict might be prudent. When he has travelled far enough away that Ka'ion feels it safe to emerge he finds Elika too is safe, and concerned, "I can't be sure, but i've heard rumours of such as him. Not a zombie but something more sinister, turned to darkness as you had feared for the wounded barbarian. His armour is that of a northerner and of recent make but I cannot place the origin of the bow."

[sageaqua]

"It's an elven bow. My party found found another one a while ago. The only way to beat him is with a net and after capturing him beating it to a pulp." said Ka'lion, "I'm more concerned about the chained ball. I can make an educated guess as to why he uses it. It's a reach weapon used to hit targets that close. You don't close he uses his bow. I think it may be a death knight or something similar."
7YfvCzNWp_1-20+6 for arcane or nature +5 for religein
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