Chapter One, Part One: Fires over Brinestump

[TheTick]

Burned, battered and beaten, the skeleton falls, and moves no more.  The sword it was carrying clatters to the ground.

(the only things in the room are the skeleton and the chest)

[SpamHead]

(to Owen)"Well I'm glad that your paladin morals don't restrict you from killing intelligent creatures like this. He was pretty rude."

Bluff Check = 1d20+8 : 2+8 = 10

Horcrust smiles on the inside, hoping he annoyed the paladin

OOC: I looked at the rules, I don't think I get Cha bonus to damage. If he had more than 3 hp than he's still alive

[TheTick]

(3hp damage was still enough)

[Phil]

"Well I'm glad that your paladin morals don't restrict you from killing intelligent creatures like this. He was pretty rude."

"Death comes to us all.  To be bound to live on after death as a skeleton fiend is no blessing.  His soul has now been released, and his servitude is at an end."

Owen nods to the older halfling fellow.  "Thank you, friend, for the healing spell.  This samurai was much more formidible than the others."

He lets others investigate the corpse.  He makes his way over to the chest.  "Perhaps we should examine it for lingering incantations.  Whatever animated these dead fellows to protect it could have easily placed a curse over it.  Or some other magical trap."

[Lotofsnow]

Faraway, concerned, approaches S'Vith.

"You are wounded. Here, let me restore some of your health."

The druid touches the wand to his fingers and then places those fingers upon the monk's cheek. Vigor flows into S'Vith.

"Please let me know if you require more healing."

Restored HP 1d8+1 : 5 + 1, total 6

[SpamHead]

Horcrust begins an incantation to reveal all magic in the area.

(afterward he casts resistance on Owen to help with the saving throw)

[TheTick]

Whatever force was animating the skeletons appears to have left once the samurai was destroyed.  As for other magical auras, the sword is magical, and their are some faint auras from within the chest, but the chest itself is mundane (though beautifully crafted).

Looking over the skeleton, you see it's armor is chainmail, of excellent (read: masterwork) quality.  It's currently broken, but enough remains that a talented smith could repair it.  The sword is more interesting; it is about the size of a short sword, but has a slightly curved end.  The blade gleams as if just polished, and there is an intricate design of seven shrikes perched on a branch worked into the metal. (It's a +1 wakizashi)  The skeleton had one other possession - a bronze key that was hanging around it's neck.

[SpamHead]

Horcrust tosses the key to Owen

"Here, there might be traps I don't want to touch on there."

He then casts resistance.

OOC: I'm just assuming the key goes to the chest.

[Phil]

"Ah yes.  I am not one for picking locks, and it would be a crime to destroy such a chest."

Owen opens the chest with the key.

Operating under the same assumption.

[Lotofsnow]

Faraway picks up the curved blade and gives it a few practice swings.

"This is incredibly light. Feels like it wants to fly from my hand. I dare not use it."

[TheTick]

The velvet-lined interior of the chest had obviously been packed with care, with everything fitted neatly into slots.  There are many missing items (mostly the fireworks the Licktoad goblins had been using to harras local travellers) but what remains is considerable.

5 x Potions of Cure Light Wounds
2 x Potions of Cure Moderate Wounds
3 x Potions of Lesser Restoration
1 x Ring of Climbing
1 x Wand of Identify (19 charges)
1 x Medium Masterwork Chain shirt
1 x Masterwork Cold Iron Wakizashi
11 x Desnan Candles (fireworks)
4 x Skyrockets (fireworks)
3,820 sp
411 gp
Assorted jewelry worth 560 gp all together.

[TheTick]

Faraway picks up the curved blade and gives it a few practice swings.

"This is incredibly light. Feels like it wants to fly from my hand. I dare not use it."

As he swings it, Faraway can't help but notice that the hilt feels a bit wobbly.

[Lotofsnow]

"What's this then?"

Faraway examines the hilt.

Perception 1d20+6 : 12 + 6, total 18

[Phil]

Owen looks over all of the contents of the chest.  "A fine hoard to be sure.  Any treasure hunter would be pleased."  Though Owen himself has no such passion for material wealth.

"But worth raising the dead to guard?  I wonder.  There has to be more to this story."

[Porteiro]

"I'm not sure I'd have much use for it, but that sword (the wakazashi) looks just about the right size for me." Jeddy says.

"But worth raising the dead to guard?  I wonder.  There has to be more to this story."

"I agree.  Surely there must be something else for us to find here."