Awakening

Before the three have a chance to react, the skeleton stands up fully in the tomb, as it does so, it picks up two ancient steels swords and then begins to climb out, obviously heading to attack the three.

Athlenah screams, 'Run! Run!'

Gaeded would, having had her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, grab it and quickly unsheathe it. She steps back some and swings her shield off her back, grabbing the handle and holding it ready. Caithryth took a step back, just barely quick enough to free her hand. After that shocked second she switches the lantern into her right hand and reaches for her sword. "Wight!", she screams with a coarse voice, echoing through the chamber as she readies herself for combat. Athlenah place the arrow she grabbed earlier on to her bow and takes aim.

 As the group readies their weapons, the skeleton steps onto the floor. It snaps it's gaze to Caithryth, the only person in range of it's swords, and lunges at her with it's right sword, keeping the left one up in a defensive position. Athlenah realises she is to close and quickly distance herself from the skeleton Caithryth leans back, holding her blade low, to get out of the reach of that ancient sword, but uses the momentum to bend her body forwards again, aiming a long but swift strike with her own steel against the undead's leg, hitting bone and ancient metal.

The skeleton clicks it's teeth together as it gets hit on the femur, as if wincing in pain. It steps diagonally back and snaps it's attention to Gaeded, rushing forward to try to strike it with it's left sword, keeping it's right on guard as Caithryth is on that side.

Gaeded would be a little shocked at the speed the skeleton moves at, expecting it to shamble more. She raises her shield up fast, but the skeleton moves it's sword down low and slashes Gaeded on the leg. The maille prevents any cuts, but the impact its still hard enough for a good bruise. She moves her leg back and goes in for a sloppy counter attack, aiming at it's left shoulder, but misses that and the tip of her sword slices across it's ribs, not doing too much damage.

Caithryth grins somewhat madly as she scored the hit and keeps attacking with a lazy backswing, which the undead parries easily. Metal slides over metal, and as she retracts her blade she manages to force enough of an angle to slice a deep cut into the forearm. At least she would, if it was a thing of flesh and blood. Instead, the steel leaves a mark in bone. Athlenah pulls back the string of her bow and releases, aiming for the skeleton's arm but her arrow only scratched. She yells at the others, "There is no flesh for me to hit!"

Athlenah's shout draws the attention of the skeleton and it's head snaps towards her before it's body turns a few moments after. It walks towards her, swinging it's right sword at her bow to try and break it it seems.

Caithryth leans in to deliver a thrust to the chest of the wight, shouting already triumphant as she feels the tip slipping between layers of ancient armor, but as she withdraws the blade after that quick thrust the wight moves on as if nothing happened.

Athlenah jumps back and rolls on the ground as the large sword swigs above her hitting the stone pillar where she was just next off and it make a loud noise that make her ears ring. Gaeded would run after the skeleton, swinging her sword down at the skeleton's back. She manages to take a chunk of bone out of it's clavicle on it's left. Athlenah looks up and sees the skeleton from and under few inspecting it from up to down right the moment Gaeded hit him. "We need to destroy his leg! Then we can make a run for it!" The skeleton pauses a moment, before turning and trying to push Gaeded away with it's right sword and then pursing after Athlenah regardless of the outcome, swinging at her with it's left sword.

Gaeded would use her shield to block the skeleton, but the sword it's it hard enough to make her stumble back some, achieving what the skeleton desired to happen. Caithryth, still trying to keep the lantern out of harms way goes for another jab with the sword. Feeling that this is not going to help much she changes her strategy, and now that the attention of her enemy is focused on the others, sends a heavy overhead slash down onto the thing's shoulder, chipping and cracking bone, even making her own arm ring. Athlenah quickly gets up and try to run away but his left sword slice her left upper arm heavily damaging her leather around and make a cut into her flash that starts bleeding. She yells in pain, 'Auwh!'

The skeleton keeps attention on Athlenah, it's teeth clicking together sounding like... laughter? It swings at her with it's right sword and keeps it's left by it's side to turn and defend from the other two if needed.

Caithryth aims a second time, and tries to strike the shoulder again, same side. It is difficult to keep track of what happens, with the dancing shadows of the lantern she holds in her other arm being a very erratic canvas. Athlenah turns around and sees the skeleton coming for her. She rises up her arm guards to protect her face but only to get sliced on her right and left under arm through the leather. Gaeded would lower her shield, going on the offensive. She takes a long step forward, closing the distance between her and the undead warrior. She hits it on the hip bone, taking out a chunk of bone.

The skeleton is starting to look battered, with several chunks of bone missing and some cracks on it's bones. After Gaeded hits it, it snaps its teeth shut and turns towards her, lunging at her with it's right sword.

Caithryth doesn't manage to find enough space for an attack between the pillar and Gaeded, so she goes in for a desperate, long extended stab that gets easily deflected by the Undead's own weapon. Cursing she retreats again, as Gaeded gets attacked. Gaeded would swing her sword down to knock away the blade coming towards her, sending it off course. Athlenah grabs a tighter hold of her bow and take out an arrow and take aim and pulls back the string. At that moment, she feels a sharp pain into her arms and hastily releases, missing the skeleton entirely.

The skeleton turns to Athlenah as the arrow whistles past it. It turns and sends it's right sword towards her, keeping it's left ready to defend against Gaeded and Caithryth. Caithryth calls out to Gaeded "Shoulder!" and goes for another wild swing again, more strength than finesse, causing her sword to bite and shatter bone again. Athlenah jumps aside as the skeleton swings it sword down where she just was. Gaeded would nod affirmatively and aims for the skeleton's shoulder, smashing her sword down with some strength. The left shoulder, which she strikes, has been worn away some already and with this, the bone breaks completely and it's left arm falls off. Despite only having one arm now, the skeleton keeps fighting.

The one armed skeleton turns towards Caithryth who shouted, swinging at her with it's remaining arm and sword. Caithryth barely gets her weapon up in time, the surprisingly strong slash causes her to strain to keep the rusted, ragged blade from cutting through her guard. Panting, she takes a step back, trying to get better footing for the next moves.

Athlenah doesn't attack it but steps back and looks around to find a very old fire holder and walks to it to pick it up and throw it some meters to the left where she just stood.

Gaeded would, as the skeleton goes to attack Caithryth, turn on her heel and bring down her sword towards the skeleton's side. She managed to cut the leather strapping keeping on the skeleton's armour and it falls off, managing to take a few ribs with it too.

The skeleton looks towards where the brasier fell, raising it's metaphorical brow. It turns back to Gaeded, who removed it's armour and then trys to stab it's sword toward her gut. Caithryth tries to wildly hack her sword into the side of the wight, feeling it smash into leather, ancient mail and bone, causing the thing to stagger. "Finish it!" Gaeded would step to the side and swinging her sword to parry the blow. She readies herself for what it may do next. Athlenah take out a new arrow and take aim pulls back the string and releases. She aimed for it's skull but, only hits the side of it, cracking the skull open a little bit.

The skeleton is barely standing now, the arrow that Ath shot at it, dazing it for some moments. Caithryth uses that moment where wight is fighting over control of its bones to take a hefty swing aimed at its leg, hitting it's right knee. There's the dry sound of breaking bones. Gaeded would, as Caithryth goes for the knee, swing her sword at the skeleton's neck bones. Her sword smashes through them, sending the head toppling off and because of Caithryth's hit, the chest of the skeleton flies in the other direction whilst the right legs breaks off and crumples to the floor. It's dead, or at least as dead as an undead being can be.

Athlenah catches her breath and looks at the shattered thing, "I told you to stop moving the lid." She grimly looks at Caith. Caithryth pokes the bag of bones with her boot and the tip of her blade, trying to make sure it's motionless. Then she kneels down to look for that thing's hand and forearm and severs it with a crunch. Caithryth holds the disembodied skeletal hand up, shaking it somewhat. "See?" Athlenah shakes her head and chuckles a bit.

Caithryth looks around. "Everybody alright?"

Athlenah says, 'Wounded but alive'

Gaeded would let out a breath, wiping her brow of sweat that gathered there, "I'm fine, just bruises."

Caithryth looks to Athlenah, 'Do you need help with dressing the wounds, Athlenah?'

Athlenah nods, 'Yes please.'

Caithryth nods, and sets the lantern down. "Then strip down. No grinning." She takes out a pouch with some bandages. Athlenah has trouble trying not to not to grin.

Gaeded would wander away from the bones, in case they happen to come back to life again, and sits down next to the tomb.

Athlenah take off her cloak and now damaged armour, then taking off her shirt, leaving her only in her undergarments and a bandage around her left upper arm above the cut. Caithryth kneels down and starts to investigate the wound. "You better have someone professional look at that once we're out. Who knows what one can catch down here." Then she tries to bandage the wound. Athlenah says, 'I will do that soon as we get back.'

Caithryth says, 'Good!'

Athlenah says, 'After you help me, I will look around the room and retrieve my arrows. Maybe I'll find something interesting too.'

Caithryth says, 'You better find something good, for all that trouble. I'll gladly light you the way.'

Athlenah mutters, 'Please don't leave me in the dark again.'

Caithryth exclaims, 'Then follow the light. We weren't moving that fast!'

The company takes a short rest, finishing off banadaging Athlenah's wounds and retrieving her arrows that were used but not broken in the fight. Now, the company must make their way out of the tomb, lest the join the dead here...

Caithryth extends her hand to bandaged Athlenah to help her up. "How about that offer of looking around here while I give you some light?" Gaeded would pull her bag back on, as well as slinging her shield's strap over her shoulder, adjusting them some. Athlenah takes her hand and pulls herself up, "Yes, please." Caithryth holds the lantern high and illuminates the room. She casually looks over the contents of the tomb the wight has inhabited not so long ago. Caithryth calls out to Gaeded. "Did the bag of bones have something on him, maybe? Rings, the like?" In the tomb lies two smallish chests, an assortment on ancient weapons, several golden ornaments and gold jewellery. Caithryth drums her fingers on the stone rim. "We struck gold here." There is nothing but rubble and dust where Athlenah looks. Athlenah turns around and walks back, "This must be the treasure."

Caithryth grins. "Well, glad to see you too!" Caithryth slips her backpack off one shoulder. "Grab everything."

Gaeded would take off her bag again too, putting some of the treasures in there, that will fit, "What about the chests?" Caithryth puts the lantern down on the floor and tries to heave one of the chests out. Athlenah put some gold into her bag Though the chest isn't too big, it is quite heavy when Caithryth lifts it. She is able to lift it some, but cannot get it all the way up and out of the stone tomb, having to put it back down again.
Caithryth cusses. "Ath! Give me a hand here!" Athlenah closes her half full bag and goes over to help Caith. With the help of Athlenah, Caithryth puts a little more effort into lifting. Athlenah, with her bandaged arms, puts her hands onto the chest, but that's all she really does as Caithryth lifts it up and out of the tomb.

Caithryth points at the other one. "Let's get this one out, too."

Athlenah raises a brow, 'But how will we move it?'

Caithryth says, 'Get it out first, then decide. I have a cunning plan. Trust me.' Caithryth grins wolfishly.

Gaeded would move around to help Caithryth lift the chest out. Caithryth leans over the tomb again to grab the chest. "A little help, please? Ah! Perfect." Caithryth strains some as she tries to lift it up, 'That one's definitely heavier!'

Caithryth and Gaeded struggled to pull this chest out of the tomb, though it seems that Gaeded is going most of the heavy lifting. They both manage to get it out of the tomb and place it down. Caithryth cracks her knuckles and drops down onto one knee to take a look at the chests. She first tries to see if they're already unlocked. Caithryth cannot get the chests open - they are locked, it seems. Caithryth reaches for her backpack and produces the leather roll that she brought with her. "Been a while." She opens it and unfurls a length of different size of tools, all long, sometimes curved metal rods, a few centimeter long, with hooked, teethed or corkscrewed heads.

Gaeded gives Caithryth a look with a raised brow, 'You can lockpick?'

Athlenah answers, not realising that Gaeded was questioning Caithryth, 'Carmillia taught me some things.'

Gaeded replies to Ath, 'I was talking to Caithryth.'

Caithryth answers without looking up. "I don't exactly advertise it. But yes, I fooled around with it from time to time. You kinda pick it up when you live in the city." Caithryth holds the tools steady and places them into the lock of the first chest. However, she struggles to focus and cannot quite get the lock open because of it. Caithryth sits down properly and thinks for a few moments. Then she says, "Right.", and tries her luck on it again, selecting a slightly different bent tool. Caithyrth puts her full attention into picking the lock of the chest. It takes her a few tries, but eventually she hears the click of the lock opening and should be able to lift up the lid of the chest to see what's inside.

Athlenah lets out a big yawn.

Caithryth grins. "Ha!" Then she turns the chest to the side, so that the side with the lock is facing the empty room - and opens it.

Inside the chest is many many gold coins. More than the company would be able to count. Caithryth grins even broader and turns her attention to the other chest. "Now let's see what we have here. And you..", she points at Athlenah, "get packing that into bags. Anything." Caithryth repositions the lamp to give her a bit more light, then she selects her tools again and slides them into the lock, trying to hear the clicks.

Athlenah moans, imitating Caithryth, '"Dear Ath can you please pack more treasures intro the bags?"' Athlenah switches back to her own voice, somewhat sarcastic, 'Sure thing Caith.'

Caithryth raises a finger to her lips, 'Quiet. I'm doing art.' Athlenah rolls her eyes and starts filling up Caithryth's bag. Caithryth's lockpicks slide into the lock and with an instantneous click, it opens. Caithryth turns the chest around again before opening it. This chest too is filled with lots of gold coins. Caithryth packs her tools into the leather roll and stows it back into her backpack. "So, part two of the cunning plan is. We fill out pockets and bags with what we can carry. And then we get out of here. Maybe we can carry one of the crates together." Gaeded would nod some, packing some of the coins into her bag. Caithryth points at the second chest she opened and closes the lid again. "We'll carry that, you and me?" She looks at Gaeded. "The rest, we'll see." Then she starts to fill as much into her backpack from the first chest as she dares.

The three have finished packing their bags full of gold and there is one chest left, filled with coins, that they will have to carry. Now that they're ready, they can start to make their way out of the tomb... if they are able to remember the way back.

Caithryth looks to the huntress, 'Athlenah, do you remember the way? I think I do.'

Athlenah nods, 'I know.. think I remember the way.' Athlenah pauses a moment, 'Shall I take the light? As I am carrying the least of us all?'

Caithryth nods, 'Good.' She hands Athlenah the lantern.' Athlenah takes it from her. "I can use our footprints in the dirt to track our path back." Gaeded would move to pick up one end of the chest, waiting for Caithryth to pick up the other side so that they can carry it together. Caithryth picks up the other handle. "Not so bad." Athlenah hold up the latern high and takes lead.

As the company make their way back and come across the larger treasure room with the many tombs, Athlenah first, and then the two behind notice that the tombs that the light of the lantern reaches are open if they were not open before and those that were open have been vacated of the dusty skeletons that rested in them.

Caithryth slows down as they illuminate the cavern. "Something's changed." Athlenah says, 'Oh no....We are not alone here.'

Gaeded raises a brow, 'What do you mean, Ath?'

Athlenah says, 'The skeletons. They are gone.'

Caithryth says, 'Well, let's make our way through that then, ere they come back.'

Athlenah says, 'They are alive, like the one we just fought.'

Gaeded sighs, 'So.. more are up and walking.. Caithryth is right, but let's be very cautious, in case we run into an undead horde.'

Athlenah asks, 'Want me to go ahead and dim the light a bit?'

Caithryth shakes her head, 'I don't think they need light. We, however, do. We came from straight ahead. Just go already.'

Athlenah snaps back, 'They can see the light to find us.'

Caithryth rolls her eyes some, 'They can also hear our arguing.'

Gaeded intervenes, 'They can see us anyway, light or not. Better we see them before they can sneak up on us.'

Athlenah suceeds, 'Then lets get out of here. We came down the stairs'
Caithryth nods, 'Yes.'

The company moves quietly through the tunnels, realizing that they don't remember the way and have to take a chance by choosing a random tunnel. After some wandering, they come across a skeleton wandering the tunnels, managing not to get seen by it. They plan how to take it down and somewhat successfully go through with their plan, managing to kill it. They then continue down the ancient tunnels. As they walk into an open space, arrows fly out from the darkness, an ensuing fight occurs, in which Athlenah gets injured even more. After recuperating some, the company continues on towards the exit, though they don't know what dangers lie ahead of them...