Quote from: Sigmund;431830Alric peers inside the ruin past Sighard and Norel and whispers softly to Bryce, "Perhaps we can come back and try to decipher the writing on the pillar later. Doctor Edwin would be disappointed in me not puzzling out the text when it's obviously related to our tongue... did you have Doctor Edwin? Quite a character, that one."...

A talented slacker, Bryce lets out an audible sigh at the memory of one of his more strident former instructors.

"Will I ever be free?" he plaintively thinks to himself.

Bryce stays near the doorway, his light crossbow ready.  He instructs Dewin to remain outdoors.

seeing Bryce bring his crossbow into play I motion to him and nod,indicating  that I will cover the left side as our companions advance...a keen eye on the shadows and possible doorways.

Quote from: Akrasia;432080A talented slacker, Bryce lets out an audible sigh at the memory of one of his more strident former instructors.

"Will I ever be free?" he plaintively thinks to himself.

This is the funniest line in the entire campaign so far.

Alric, Norrel, during your inspection of the altar, you can see that there are five posed skeletal monks. Their bones look like they were boiled to remove the flesh from them, and wire holds their bones stiff at the joints. They all wear coarse brown hooded robes with white belts and small rosaries hanging off the belts.

The central three are standing with their hands folded in contemplation or prayer. Each one is fanned out slightly from the others so that they watch both sides of the pews and down the centre aisle. The other two are reclining with folded hands that look like they might have once held something loosely against their chests. Neither skeleton has anything now.

The skulls appear much older than the skeletal monks, and many are set into the plaster on the rear wall. The source of the fluttering also becomes apparent. Alric, you can see that each skull has a small strip of rolled parchment in it. Some of the parchments have come loose and are laying on the floor in the dust.

Norrel, your keen eyes can't see a clear doorway of any sort, but you do detect a seam in the plaster behind the three central skeletons. As well, it seems like the distance you're standing at here against the back wall isn't quite as long as the church building looked from the outside.

Bryce, Amra, everything is calm and quiet for now. Dewin reports that he can't see anyone up here at all as he circles the outcropping from on high.

Quote from: Pseudoephedrine;432122*snip*
Bryce, Amra, everything is calm and quiet for now.
 *snip*
.

Will stay posted till I see Bryce advance/change position. Will work with Bryce to provide effective cover for fellows untill I know more of the situation...

Alric shakes his head at the sight of the monk's remains, and then he stoops and retrieves one of the strips of parchment from the floor, attempting not to touch the skulls or other ornamentation. He will then unroll and examine the parchment.

Quote from: Pseudoephedrine;432122Norrel, your keen eyes can't see a clear doorway of any sort, but you do detect a seam in the plaster behind the three central skeletons. As well, it seems like the distance you're standing at here against the back wall isn't quite as long as the church building looked from the outside.

Norel will move up to the seam in the plaster, and, as he shines the light from his lantern on the wall behind the three central skeletons, he says in a low tone, "I believe there's a hidden doorway here.  Help me look for opening mechanism."

Norel will set his lantern down on the altar behind him and start examining the wall area for some sort of way to open the doorway.

Quote from: Sigmund;432171Alric shakes his head at the sight of the monk's remains, and then he stoops and retrieves one of the strips of parchment from the floor, attempting not to touch the skulls or other ornamentation. He will then unroll and examine the parchment.

"...and on the third night slit a black-feathered cock's throat and let it drain into the brazier..." written in pressed charcoal by a shaking hand.

Quote from: Drohem;432238Norel will move up to the seam in the plaster, and, as he shines the light from his lantern on the wall behind the three central skeletons, he says in a low tone, "I believe there's a hidden doorway here.  Help me look for opening mechanism."

Norel will set his lantern down on the altar behind him and start examining the wall area for some sort of way to open the doorway.

It's a straight Perception or Mechanisms test, whichever you prefer.

Quote from: Pseudoephedrine;432546"...and on the third night slit a black-feathered cock's throat and let it drain into the brazier..." written in pressed charcoal by a shaking hand.

Alric starts gathering any other strips of parchment he can find off the floor, although he doesn't yet touch those in the skulls, and whispers, "Bryce, perhaps you should look at this as well."

Between the stuff on the floor and the strips in each skull, you're looking at perhaps ten or more pages of material. Just the stuff on the floor is five pieces, each of about the same length.

Quote from: Pseudoephedrine;432553Between the stuff on the floor and the strips in each skull, you're looking at perhaps ten or more pages of material. Just the stuff on the floor is five pieces, each of about the same length.

Alric will gather the pieces on the floor, but I want to wait for Bryce's input and perhaps the opportunity to cast a spell or two before touching the skulls in any way... and yes, I'm paranoid

Quote from: Pseudoephedrine;432547It's a straight Perception or Mechanisms test, whichever you prefer.

Norel failed his Perception (48%) test with a roll of 74%.

Bryce cautiously proceeds into the room, crossbow ready to fire if necessary, and eventually joins his senior fellow UC alumnus.  

Quote from: Sigmund;432550Alric starts gathering any other strips of parchment he can find off the floor, although he doesn't yet touch those in the skulls, and whispers, "Bryce, perhaps you should look at this as well."

Bryce emits (another) audible sigh upon witnessing Alric's actions and hearing his proposal.  After a moment Bryce says, "My friend, there are scores of these scraps.  How could we possibly know what order in which they go?"

Despite his mild whine, the young sorcerer cautiously picks up a few strips near his feet.