PART I - THE SURFACE

[seandon4]

You and the other adventurers arrive at the Tomb after a day of uneventful travel across rocky ground. The Tomb is situated at the edge of a seemingly endless expanse of tundra, and is just
barely visible through the growing dusk.

Once at the cairn, there is a circle of irregular stones of all shapes and sizes; they make a ring, marking the limits of the actual burial mound. The ring would appear to be about 200 feet across in diameter. Also within the circle are three mastheads, or rather, three separate piles of rocks supporting a grim mast-like device of wood and canvas crowned by a human skull. Finally, in the center of the circle, standing on the peak of the mound, is what appears to be an altar; from where you're standing, you see that the altar is crudely constructed of several stone slabs which are badly bloodstained...

[Werrrdna]

Lorendiac inspects the altar from afar with his elf eyes.

"Looks like a sacrificial altar. There are ill omens here." He draws his Katar cautiously. "We must tread lightly in this hallowed place, lest we become dog meat."

[OOC: I'd like to inspect the ground and surrounding areas for signs of tampering, traps, covered pits, or fantasy versions of land mines. IQ is 18.]

[darrght]

Telfur stares in the same direction and murmurs, "The Elf speaks sense. It is too quiet, I feel certain there will be guardians of some description to protect the tomb." He places his hand on the handle of his pickaxe and approaches the altar slowly following 15 feet behind Lorendiac.

[OOC: Also inspecting the ground, rocks, altar and mastheads closely as I approach]

[tp]

Lazarus peers at the rock alter miopicly. He shudders involuntarily then knocks an arrow. 'Lazarus don't like this, no, not at all' he mutters.

[dumfis]

'Oh Sahib's, this one feels this is a very bad, very bad place'. 'If thou must approach, this one will cover you and watch from afar'.

{OOC: Dumfis will hang back and cover the group approaching the cairn}

[khaboom]

"Huh, not a gnome in sight! Maybe they're underneath... Reckon we can turn that altar over if we give it a good heave, eh, Telfur?"

OOC - I assume we have traveled and know each other tolerably well by now.

[seandon4]

As Lorendiac carefully inspects the ground, the elf sees no sign of traps below. He finds the ring of stones to be in a neat circle; meanwhile, the skulls on the gruesome mastheads cast down a menacing like presence.

There is nothing about the stones and ground that Telfur finds dangerous. He eyes one of the mastheads as he approaches the altar, but sees nothing but canvas and bone on a wooden stake. Finally, he makes his way to the altar, which stands upon the peak of the mound, about 15' from ground level. Peering closely at the altar (about eye height for the dwarf in fact), he finds darkened, foul-smelling stains marking where the blood of victims have run down the mound and onto the frozen earth below. He can see the altar appears hollow. It looks to be made so that the top can be slid away.

The horses by which you all traveled by, remain tightly tethered outside the ring.

[OOC: Lazarus, Dumfis and Funklebun stay back, presumably just behind or at the edge of the circle. Lazarus has an arrow knocked. Telfur can hear Funklebun as he inspects.
khaboom That would be a fair assumption, as you all traveled here together with the shared interest of finding the Tomb. There is also implication that you all got here by horse.]

[dumfis]

"Sahib!" "Good Dwarf Telfur!" "Since you have not gone POOF! It is safe to come now?"

[Werrrdna]

Lorendiac slips his dagger away and runs his hand over the cold bloody stone. "I think we've found the way inside the cairn," he says with a tinge of apprehension.

He puts his hands on the sides of the slab and attempts to slide it off.

[tp]

Lazarus keeps the alter covered with his bow and arrow.

[darrght]

"Moving stone is Dwarf work my elf companion. Stand back and stay alert while we open this sarcophagus." Telfur says while waving Funklebun over to help him and signalling that Dumfis and Lazarus should continue to hang back and keep those by the tomb covered by missile weapons or be prepared to charge to our aid should it be needed.

[khaboom]

Funklebun grins and rolls his sleeves up. "Hey ho, let's heave!" he chants as he sets to it under Telfur's directions, knowing that two many dwarves can spoil even a tasty moss broth in the kitchen.

[seandon4]

As Lorendiac, Telfur, and Funklebun lay their hands on the altar, the lid begins to slide easily from the combined effort. Not a moment later, the horses (tethered nearby) begin to whinny and become extremely uneasy and restless...

A noise like the sound of some ungodly creature breaks the silence. From the stones supporting each gruesome masthead erupts from the earth a single animated skeleton (three in all); each carrying a human thigh bone club and a shield constructed of canvas stretched over a joined set of ribs. They begin to close in on to those by the altar, at lightening speed...

[OOC: How does everyone react?]

[EDIT]

[darrght]

Telfur screams at his companions while pointing to the living skeletons, "By all the demons of Baclitaxel! Arm yourselves!" With this, he pulls his pickaxe from his belt and charges the nearest of the undead foes.

[Werrrdna]

Lorendiac spins around to see the grotesque skeletal beings running towards the altar. "Back, ghasts of the underworld, lest ye feel my wrath," he cries, whipping out his sling staff, loading a stone before flinging it at an incoming skeleton.